As part of International Women's Day, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Latin American Center for Perinatology - Women's and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR) participated in the event "Women's Health in Tocantins: presentation of successful experiences" held in the city of Palmas capital of the state of Tocantins. The international organizations and the State Department of Health of Tocantins work together to strengthen women's care through the strategy Zero Maternal Deaths by Hemorrhage (0MDxH).
As part of International Women's Day, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Latin American Center for Perinatology - Women's and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR) participated in the event "Women's Health in Tocantins: presentation of successful experiences" held in the city of Palmas capital of the state of Tocantins. The international organizations and the State Department of Health of Tocantins work together to strengthen women's care through the strategy Zero Maternal Death by Hemorrhage (0MDxH).
PAHO/WHO's Deputy Representative in Brazil, María Dolores Perez-Rosales, emphasized that the 0MDxH strategy, carried out in partnership between the Organization and CLAP / SMR, aims to mobilize governments, civil society and communities in places where obstetric hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal death. "We are committed to contribute with Brazil in guaranteeing the right to health, with a special focus on women's health. We understand that women's health care and attention have a positive impact on the health of all those around them ", she said.
"Tocantins was the first Brazilian state to implement the strategy Zero Maternal Death by Hemorrhage in its maternity hospitals, training about 150 professionals from all points of attention to childbirth and birth," said Maria Dolores. The deputy representative also pointed out that the state was a pioneer in the use of non-pneumatic anti-shock suit (NNSG), "an important technology that can prevent the death of women in the postpartum period." This body compression equipment allows bleeding to be controlled temporarily, which helps increase the survival of women while awaiting procedures or transfer to a referral health facility.
Suzanne Serruya, Director of CLAP/WR, recalled that "in the last decades, maternal death has decreased significantly due to better care provided by qualified professionals, facilities and health resources such as transfusions and emergency care." However, she emphasized that maternal death is a serious social injustice and that to avoid it, it is necessary to make evidence-based interventions and to carry out respectful and culturally appropriate treatments.
Scenario in the Americas
More than one in five maternal deaths occurs due to bleeding . Pregnant women face significant health risks that can often be fatal to their babies as well. Every day, 16 women die in the Americas due to complications in pregnancy or childbirth. Most of these deaths occur during the first 24 hours after delivery.
More than 8% of obstetric hemorrhages in Latin America require blood transfusion in the postpartum period - representing 64% of total transfusion needs, according to an analysis of 712,000 perinatal clinical cases available at the regional base of the Perinatal Information System PAHO/WHO, which presents data from 2009 to 2012.
The numbers cited above suggest that in order to stop maternal mortality and morbidity, efforts should be focused on third trimester bleeding, especially those related to childbirth and postpartum. These are the most serious and require more care.
Among the factors leading to maternal death are the lack of emergency transportation and properly trained staff, blood transfusions, treatment that is minimally required in health institutions, as well as community and patient-related factors.
