By the PPH Foundation

The recent rains have brought environmental relief after periods of drought, but they have also revealed another public health challenge, water pollution. When heavy rainfall follows dry seasons, surface runoff tends to carry accumulated waste, soil contaminants, sewage residues, agricultural chemicals, and animal waste into rivers, wells, and other community water sources. In many urban informal settlements and peri urban areas, flooding can overwhelm sanitation systems, increasing the risk of contamination of drinking water supplies.

Water pollution arises from several interconnected sources. Poorly managed solid waste disposal allows plastics, decomposing organic matter, and toxic substances to accumulate in open environments. Industrial discharge into rivers and streams introduces chemical pollutants that may persist in water systems for long periods. Agricultural activities also contribute through fertilizer runoff, pesticide residues, and soil erosion carried into water bodies during heavy rains. In communities where livestock share water sources with households, animal waste further increases microbial contamination.

One of the major links between water pollution and postpartum haemorrhage is rooted in infection risk. Unsafe water increases exposure to pathogens that can cause urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal illness, and reproductive tract infections during pregnancy and after childbirth. Severe infections may progress to sepsis, a life-threatening condition that can interfere with normal blood clotting mechanisms and trigger coagulopathy associated with postpartum haemorrhage.

Julius Ogengo, Co-Lead of the End PPH Initiative, emphasizes that environmental health is inseparable from maternal survival. He notes that “a healthy mother requires more than skilled birth attendance, she also needs a safe environment, clean water, and protection from preventable infections that can complicate pregnancy and childbirth.”

The World Health Organization highlights that inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions contribute significantly to maternal and neonatal morbidity in low- and middle-income settings. Women living in flood affected communities, informal settlements, or areas with weak sanitation infrastructure face higher vulnerability to infection related complications.

Community protection against water pollution begins at the household level. Drinking water should be treated before consumption through boiling, approved chemical purification, or safe filtration methods. Water should be stored in clean, covered containers to prevent recontamination. Hand hygiene remains essential, especially before food preparation, after toilet use, and during newborn care and breastfeeding.

Pregnant women are advised to avoid untreated surface water, particularly during the rainy season when contamination risk is high. Early antenatal care visits provide an opportunity for health workers to screen for infection, educate mothers on safe water practices, and detect complications early.

Addressing water pollution is therefore part of a broader maternal health protection strategy. Environmental stewardship, improved sanitation systems, and community education contribute to reducing infection related complications that can lead to postpartum haemorrhage. Protecting water sources ultimately protects mothers and future generations.

Sources
World Health Organization, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Health
World Health Organization, Trends in Maternal Mortality
WHO Guidelines on Infection Prevention in Maternal and Newborn Care

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