Bixby researchers with Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) who have been working in the field using misoprostol for over 4 years. The Bixby Center is working to reduce maternal mortality where it is the highest through exploring the use of misoprostol for the management of postpartum hemorrhage in resource-poor settings.
The Problem:
Excessive bleeding after childbirth, or postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Rural and poor women in developing countries are particularly vulnerable: they are more likely to deliver at home far from medical services and often without skilled birth attendants. Unfortunately, women and their attendants may not be able to determine when bleeding has reached a dangerous level and emergency obstetric care may not be easily accessible.
The Solution:
Misoprostol, a low cost, off-patent, easy to administer drug that is stable in field conditions and greatly reduces the chance of postpartum hemorrhage. Our partner Venture Strategies Innovations worked in 14 countries to Misoprostol is available to women who need it.
Bixby’s work:
The Bixby Center worked with Venture Strategies Innovations and local partners to demonstrate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of community-based distribution of misoprostol to control postpartum hemorrhage after home births to provide women who cannot reach a health facility to deliver access to this life-saving technology.
Country Settings