By the PPH Foundation
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide and in Kenya. Globally, it affects millions of women each year and is responsible for more than 20–25% of all maternal deaths, contributing to roughly 70,000 fatalities annually. PPH disproportionately affects women in low‑ and middle‑income countries, where gaps in emergency obstetric care, blood availability, and clinical capacity persist. In contrast, high‑income countries have dramatically reduced PPH deaths through systematic emergency care, skilled attendance, and functional health systems.
In Kenya, maternal mortality remains unacceptably high, with an estimated 355 deaths per 100,000 live births; far above the global average of 223 per 100,000. PPH contributes to about 40% of these maternal deaths, making it the single largest killer of mothers in childbirth. This equates to roughly 3,000–6,000 women dying every year due to PPH in Kenya alone, approximately 10 women daily.
Private sector health providers; including private hospitals, faith‑based facilities, and smaller clinics, play a substantial role in delivering maternal health services in mixed health systems like Kenya’s. Across low‑ and middle‑income countries, the private sector is estimated to provide nearly 40–44% of key maternal and newborn services, such as antenatal care and childbirth, with even higher shares in urban areas. These facilities therefore represent essential access points for women in labour, including those needing emergency obstetric care. Evidence also shows that some private hospitals in Kenya score higher in clinical quality measures for obstetric care compared with certain public hospitals, demonstrating the potential for high‑quality delivery services.
Prof Ann Kihara, a leading maternal health specialist and a Co-Lead at the End PPH Initiative, underscores the importance of unified care standards: “The fight against PPH cannot succeed unless all providers; public and private, are held to the same clinical standards, reporting requirements, and emergency response practices. True progress means that wherever a mother seeks care, she receives timely, high‑quality treatment that can prevent death from severe bleeding.”
By intentionally integrating private providers into national maternal health strategies and quality frameworks, Kenya can accelerate progress toward ending PPH and achieving sustainable reductions in maternal mortality.
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