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By MICHAEL ORIEDO
Women who deliver at home now have a drug to help curb post partum haemorrhage, a major cause of maternal death in the country.
The new drug, Misoprostol prevents haemorrhage and other preventable causes of maternal deaths especially for women who cannot access health facilities at the time of giving birth.
The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2009 shows that 488 maternal deaths occur per 100, 000 live births. This translates to about 7,700 deaths annually.
"Misoprostol tablets offer a safe, effective, affordable and easy-to-use solution to women," says Prof Joseph Karanja of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University of Nairobi.
Karanja identifies haemorrhage, infections, hypertension, obstructed labour and complications abortions as the major causes of maternal deaths in Kenya.
"Over 56 per cent of deliveries take place at home and this rate is higher in rural area. Many of the maternal deaths occur where women cannot access health facilities," he said.
The drugs targets women particularly those in rural areas who are least likely to deliver in health facilities. "The women die at home because they do not have access to life saving medicines," he said.
Injections
The gynaecologist said Misoprostol would mitigate women’s risk of life-threatening bleeding when they deliver at home.
In Kenya, among the frequently used methods to stop post partum bleeding are injections.
But according to Karanja, the injections have been ineffective because most health facilities cannot store the drugs. "The drugs are sensitive to light, temperature and need specialised storage facilities. Most hospitals mainly at community level do not have the necessary equipments," he said. The injections also require assistance at birth by trained health providers.
Contrary, Karanja said Misoprostol, which has been used in the developed world for several years are easy to use and store.
"The drug is in tablet form making it easier to use especially by women in places where injectables are not feasible," he said.
More significantly, the obstetrician said trained mothers who have just delivered can administer the drugs themselves or through the help of community health providers.
To test the effectiveness of Misoprostol, Karanja and a team of researchers from Venture Strategies Initiative, an NGO from the US, did pilot studies in Maragua and Kitui.
"We educated women on safe delivery and post-partum haemorrhage. We teamed up with midwives who distributed to the women the drugs during antenatal care visits," he said.
Of the 1,319 women who used the medicine, Karanja said many found them effective.
During the study, Karanja said 97 per cent of women used the drugs safely.
"A woman is supposed to swallow three Misoprostol tablets immediately after childbirth. This would help reduce chances of haemorrhage by more than 50 per cent,’’ he said.
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