July 31, 2010

Task force releases second edition of USAID-endorsed guidelines on PPH management at the community level

(ANAHEIM, CA) - This month, members of the Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program’s (MCHIP) Postpartum Hemorrhage Community-Based Task Force completed revisions of standards for postpartum hemorrhage management at the community level. “Prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage at the community level: A guide for policy makers, health care providers, donors, community leaders, and program managers” was released in July 2010 for immediate use by program planners and policy makers in developing countries seeking to integrate evidence-based solutions to address one of the greatest contributors to maternal mortality: postpartum hemorrhage.

Co-authors Martine Holston, VSI Director, Research and Implementation and Chair of the MCHIP Postpartum Hemorrhage Community-Based Task Force, and Dr. Ndola Prata, VSI Director, Medical and Programs, supported task force members in updating the guidelines previously developed in 2008 under the Prevention of Post-partum Hemorrhage Initiative (POPPHI). This second edition was updated to reflect current evidence on medications, practices and devices used for PPH prevention and treatment at the community level. The document is designed for policy and program planners to adapt to country situations and specifies who can provide an intervention, the level of evidence available, recommendations based upon level of evidence, and highlights practical issues in implementation.

The guidelines are available for download on the MCHIP website here.