Implementing at-scale, community-based distribution of misoprostol tablets to mothers in the third stage of labor for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in Sokoto State, Nigeria: Early results and lessons learned

Abstract

BackgroundPostpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal death in Sokoto State, Nigeria, where 95% of women give birth outside of a health facility. Although pilot schemes have demonstrated the value of community-based distribution of misoprostol for the prevention of PPH, none have provided practical insight on taking such programs to scale.MethodsA community-based system for the distribution of misoprostol tablets (in 600ug) and chlorhexidine digluconate gel 7.1% to mother-newborn dyads was introduced by state government officials and community leaders throughout Sokoto State in April 2013, with the potential to reach an estimated 190,467 annual births. A simple outcome form that collected distribution and consumption data was used to assess the percentage of mothers that received misoprostol at labor through December 2014. Mothers’ conditions were tracked through 6 weeks postpartum. Verbal autopsies were conducted on associated maternal deaths.ResultsMisoprostol distribution was successfully introduced and reached mothers in labor in all 244 wards in Sokoto State. Community data collection systems were successfully operational in all 244 wards with reliable capacity to record maternal deaths. 70,982 women or 22% of expected births received misoprostol from April 2013 to December 2014. Between April and December 2013, 33 women (< 1%) reported that heavy bleeding persisted after misoprostol use and were promptly referred. There were a total of 11 deaths in the 2013 cohort which were confirmed as maternal deaths by verbal autopsies. Between January and December of 2014, a total 434 women (1.25%) that ingested misoprostol reported associated side effects.ConclusionIt is feasible and safe to utilize government guidelines on results-based primary health care to successfully introduce community distribution of life saving misoprostol at scale to reduce PPH and improve maternal outcomes. Lessons from Sokoto State’s at-scale program implementation, to assure every mother’s right to uterotonics, can inform scale-up elsewhere in Nigeria.

“My job is to get pregnant women to the hospital”: a qualitative study of the role of traditional birth attendants in the distribution of misoprostol to prevent post-partum haemorrhage in two provinces in Mozambique

“…TBAs highly valued the program, and spoke confidently about distributing misoprostol and understood its role in preventing PPH. Similar to other studies in Nigeria [ 31 ] and Nepal [ 32 ], most TBAs correctly explained how and when to administer misoprostol.…”

Crystal structure of misoprostol bound to the labor inducer prostaglandin E2 receptor

“…In these countries, clinically relevant EP3 selective agonists or other uterotonics drugs such as oxytocin are generally not available due to their cost, instability and their mode of administration, which requires a hospital setting. Therefore, misoprostol started to be distributed in the third world communities as the only available therapeutic for labor management 14 , despite the fact that this indication is not approved by the FDA due to lack of evidence for safety associated with its use during pregnancy 12 . Thus, new potent, safe and selective EP3 agonists that display better tissue selectivity toward myometrium and that retain the advantages of misoprostol are required to fully exploit the clinical advantages of EP3 activation in women reproductive health.…”

Verbal autopsy in health policy and systems: a literature review

“…Government funding and commitment, as well as support and governance through an independent body, were also recommended to ensure longevity, continued evolution and provision of academic freedom to achieve this. 43 44 50 …”