By PPH Foundation

The relationship between faith and health is deeply embedded in how communities understand, respond to, and manage childbirth, particularly in the context of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). As the leading cause of maternal mortality globally, PPH continues to claim thousands of lives each year, especially in low-resource settings where access to timely care is limited. Yet beyond health systems and clinical interventions, religion plays a powerful and often under-recognized role in shaping maternal health outcomes.

In many communities, religious beliefs influence critical decisions around pregnancy and childbirth, including where women deliver, when they seek care, and how families respond to complications. In Kenya and across sub-Saharan Africa, faith leaders are often the first point of consultation during health crises, including obstetric emergencies. This places religion at the center of the PPH response, not as a barrier, but as a potential life-saving force when properly engaged.

PPH, defined as blood loss of 500 ml or more within 24 hours after birth, remains the number one direct cause of maternal deaths globally, contributing significantly to preventable mortality. In many of these cases, delays in seeking or reaching care, often influenced by social and cultural factors, determine whether a mother survives. Religious beliefs and practices can directly affect these delays, either by encouraging timely care-seeking or by reinforcing reliance on non-skilled support systems.

Encouragingly, evidence shows that faith can be a powerful tool for improving maternal health outcomes. A 2024 cluster randomized controlled trial in Ethiopia demonstrated that engaging religious leaders in maternal health education significantly improved the uptake of maternal health services. Through structured teaching, community engagement, and culturally sensitive messaging, religious leaders were able to influence knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among pregnant women, leading to increased use of skilled care.

This highlights a critical opportunity; faith leaders are not just spiritual guides but also trusted community influencers capable of driving behavior change. Their involvement in promoting facility-based deliveries, birth preparedness, and early response to complications such as PPH can significantly reduce delays that often prove fatal. Globally, faith-based organizations also play a substantial role in healthcare delivery, managing a significant proportion of health facilities in many countries and remaining deeply rooted in communities where formal systems may be weak.

At the same time, the intersection of faith and health must be approached with sensitivity. In some contexts, misconceptions or deeply held beliefs may contribute to delays in seeking care, particularly where complications are interpreted through spiritual lenses. However, these challenges underscore the importance of partnership rather than exclusion. By working with faith leaders and aligning health messages with shared values, such as the sanctity of life and the protection of mothers and families, health systems can bridge gaps between belief and practice.

In Kenya, collaborative efforts between health institutions, government, and faith leaders have already demonstrated promise. Religious leaders have publicly committed to promoting maternal health, advocating against harmful practices, and integrating life-saving messages into their teachings. These efforts recognize that protecting mothers is not only a medical responsibility but also a moral and communal obligation.

Ultimately, ending deaths from PPH requires more than clinical solutions. It demands a holistic approach that recognizes the social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of maternal health. Faith, when harnessed effectively, becomes a powerful ally, transforming places of worship into platforms for awareness, mobilization, and action.

Protecting mothers from PPH is therefore a shared responsibility, one that unites health systems, communities, and faith institutions in a common purpose. By strengthening this partnership, we move closer to a future where no woman dies while giving life.

Sources

Ottoman, A. W., Angira, C., Owenga, J., Ogendi, J. Socio-Health Determinants of Occurrence of Postpartum Hemorrhage Among Women of Reproductive Age 15–49 Years in Kenya. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management. 2021, 9, 03.

Sadore, A. A., Kebede, Y., Birhanu, Z. Effectiveness of Engaging Religious Leaders in Maternal Health Education for Improving Maternal Health Service Utilization in Ethiopia, Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Public Health. 2024, 12, 1399472.

United Nations Population Fund. Religious Leaders Pledge to Fight Maternal Mortality in Kenya. UNFPA, 2015.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Maternal Health Task Force. Engaging Faith-Based Organizations in the Response to Maternal Mortality. 2011.

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