By The PPH Foundation

Kenya continues to record high cases of postpartum haemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal deaths, and health experts warn that failing to address it has far-reaching social and economic consequences. According to Prof Moses Obimbo, Project Lead of the End PPH Initiative under the PPH Foundation in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society and the Midwives Association of Kenya, every preventable death or complication reverberates through families, communities and the national economy. The Initiative is calling for stronger systems to stop the escalating cost of inaction.

The Social Impact, Families and Communities in Crisis

Prof Ann Kihara, a Co-Lead at the End PPH Initiative notes that when a mother dies from PPH, the entire family structure weakens, leaving children vulnerable to emotional trauma, loss of care and long-term developmental challenges. Communities, especially in rural areas, absorb the burden through informal caregiving that is rarely supported by formal systems.

Survivors also carry heavy social costs. Dr Eunice Atsali, also a Co-Lead at the initiative explains that many women experience chronic fatigue, anaemia, disability or trauma after severe PPH, conditions that disrupt daily life and childcare. In some communities, women also face stigma after experiencing complicated births, deepening their social isolation.

The Economic Impact, Counting the Real Cost

Health economist Dr Samuel Mwangi says the economic toll is often underestimated. Emergency PPH care; including surgery, transfusion and extended hospitalization, can push households into catastrophic spending. Families frequently sell assets or borrow heavily to cover emergency bills.

At national level, Dr Kireki Omanwa, the President of KOGS and also a Co-Lead at the End PPH Initiative warns that maternal deaths and disabilities fuel losses in productivity and increase pressure on health systems already struggling with preventable emergencies. “Every PPH case that escalates is a cost the country pays for years,” he says.

Solutions, What Can Be Done

Experts agree that the long-term cost of inaction far outweighs the investment needed for prevention. The End PPH Initiative is championing improved facility readiness, expanded blood access, health worker training, better data use and stronger community awareness. Prof Obimbo emphasises that “a prepared system is far cheaper than an overwhelmed one,” urging counties and national leadership to prioritise PPH as a national development concern.

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-girl-in-pink-dress-with-blood-transfusion-set-on-her-arm-6191543/

Sources
World Health Organization, PPH Guidelines 2023
PPH Foundation, End PPH Initiative Stakeholders Report 2025
Kenya Health Information System, Maternal Health Data 2024
UNFPA, Emergency Obstetric Care Review
National Men in Maternity Interviews, 2025