A recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Birmingham has introduced E-MOTIVE, a groundbreaking approach to address postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), the leading cause of maternal mortality, affecting 14 million women yearly and resulting in approximately 70,000 deaths. The trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated a 60% reduction in severe bleeding by utilizing a low-cost blood collection drape alongside a bundle of WHO-recommended treatments instead of sequential interventions.
PPH is characterized by a blood loss of over 500 mL within 24 hours of birth and is particularly deadly in low- and middle-income countries. The E-MOTIVE package emphasizes early detection and immediate bundled treatment involving uterine massage and medications to control bleeding, all manageable by midwives. The study involved over 200,000 women across hospitals in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania, revealing improved outcomes, including reduced blood transfusion rates.
Professor Arri Coomarasamy, who led the trial, highlighted the urgent need for timely interventions to improve maternal health. The research aligns with global initiatives aimed at mitigating PPH and enhancing safe childbirth practices, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
