Community-Based Distribution of Misoprostol for the Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage: Evaluation of a Pilot Intervention in Tangail District, Bangladesh

Misoprostol is a proven uterotonic that is increasingly used in clinical and home delivery settings to prevent and manage Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH). Misoprostol tablets are inexpensive, are easy to store (they do not need refrigeration), are stable under field conditions, and have an excellent safety profile. In addition, misoprostol does not re quire a skilled service provider. Since 2008, EngenderHealth’s Mayer Hashi project has piloted a successful program to distribute misoprostol to pregnant women to prevent postpartum hemorrhage when they give birth at home. The survey shows a 35% drop in deaths from bleeding and a 50% drop for deaths from eclampsia.