Combating Maternal Mortality in Uganda: An Assessment of the Role of Misoprostol in Prevention of Post-Partum Hemorrhage

Background: In Sub- Saharan Africa, one in 35 women die in child birth, 1000 times higher than the western world and Post-Partum Hemorrhage (PPH) accounts for the biggest percentage of maternal morbidity and mortality (WHO, 2005; WHO, 2010). Maternal Mortality in Uganda is one of the highest in the world at 435 for every 100,000 and 25% of these are due to PPH happening within 24 hours after delivery. Oxytocin, the standard of care in PPH management has registered challenges like requirement of sterile injections, requirement of trained personnel, special supply chain/storage conditions like refrigeration and protection from light affecting maximum treatment outcomes especially in poorly resourced developing countries where these are not realized. It has been argued that any effort or developments based on physiological processes towards the reduction of this horrific PPH rate would greatly have a significant impact on the lives of families and women worldwide. Several scholars have thus stressed a vital need to develop simple, practical and inexpensive techniques relevant to prevent and treat PPH in developing countries.

Inclusion criteria

Term mothers [38-41 WOA] above 18 years of age admitted at Mbarara Hospital, Uganda in active labor; anticipating vaginal delivery -

Exclusion criteria

Complicated labor:

• confirmed intra-uterine fetal death
• self-reported maternal heart disease
• current diagnosis of severe malaria or acute bacterial infection,
• multiple pregnancy,
• induced or augmented labor,
• elective Caesarean section,
• ante-partum hemorrhage,
• reported hypersensitivity to prostaglandins
• altered cognitive status (ACS) as assessed by the MRAs. -