Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) or excessive bleeding after child birth is the leading cause of maternal deaths in Kenya.
According to the data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2022), thousands of women die every year due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications with the maternal mortality ratio standing at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births annually.
This is far from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Marginalised communities bear the highest burden of loss with 15 out of 47 counties in Kenya contributing to 98.7% of maternal deaths.
Kenya’s neonatal mortality rate stands at 21 deaths per 1000 live births. Kajiado County is among counties with the highest neonatal mortality rate with 25 deaths recorded per 1000 live births.
Inadequate access to skilled health care providers, limited access to quality prenatal and postnatal care, limited availability of essential medical supplies and equipment and gaps in emergency obstetric care have contributed to the high postpartum mortality rates.
In addition, cultural norms and social stigma surrounding maternal health often prevent women from seeking timely and appropriate care, further increasing the risk of complications during childbirth.
To address this challenge, Lwala Community Alliance, a Non-Governmental Organization, has donated 60 Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garments (NASG), to support the Kajiado county government in the fight against maternal mortality.
The Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG) is a low-cost compression suit that controls persistent post -partum bleeding by applying external pressure on a woman’s lower body to drive blood upward.
It reduces blood flow to the uterus and treats hypovolemic shock and can keep a woman with postpartum hemorrhage alive for up to 48 hours, without which she may bleed and die within 30 minutes. This allows for time to transfer a patient to a health care facility where they can get proper treatment.
According to Julius Mbeya, Chief Executive Officer, Lwala Community Alliance, maternal deaths in Kenya could be prevented with timely and effective maternal health care management and equipment.
Mbeya revealed that the 25 health facilities have been equipped with the NASG and health care workers will be trained on how to manage postpartum hemorrhage and how to deploy the NASG to save lives.
“Our intention is to equip all facilities doing deliveries with the garments. We have so far equipped 25 facilities and we will be training health care workers on how to use them so as to help women with postpartum hemorrhage,” said Mbeya.
County Executive Member for Health Alex Kilowua noted that the NASG will help reduce maternal mortality rates in remote areas where access to health facilities is a challenge.
