Postpartum Hemorrhage in Humanitarian Settings: Heat-Stable Carbetocin and Tranexamic Acid Implementation Study in Uganda

Abstract

Background and Objective

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a major concern in crisis-affected settings. There is a lack of strategies for implementing heat-stable carbetocin (HSC) and tranexamic acid (TXA) in humanitarian settings. This study aims to investigate the impact of a capacity-strengthening package on the utilization of uterotonics for PPH prevention, PPH detection, and utilization of TXA for PPH treatment in basic obstetric care clinics in humanitarian settings in Uganda.

Methods

A multi-stepped implementation research study was conducted, wherein six select facilities utilized an intervention package encompassing provider training, an online community of practice, and wall-displayed PPH algorithms. Facilities were conveniently assigned to the same study sequence: T1 (routine care), a transition period for training; T2 (package without HSC and TXA); T3 (package with HSC); and T4 (package with HSC and TXA). The primary outcomes assessed trends in prophylactic uterotonic use (including HSC), visual diagnosis of hemorrhage, and HSC and TXA use for hemorrhage treatment. Analysis followed an intention-to-treat approach, adjusting for cluster effect and baseline characteristics. Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry: PACTR202302476608339.

Results

From April 10, 2022, to April 4, 2023, 2299 women were recruited (T1: 643, T2: 570, T3: 580, T4: 506). Over 99% of all women received prophylactic uterotonics across the four phases, with oxytocin alone primarily used in T1 (93%) and T2 (92%) and HSC alone in T3 (74%) and T4 (54%) (T4–T1 95% CI: 47.8–61.0). Hemorrhage diagnosis ranged from 1% to 4%. For hemorrhage treatment, universal oxytocin use in T1 and T2 decreased in T3 and T4 after HSC introduction (T4–T1: 33%–100%; 95% CI: –100.0 to –30.9), and TXA use increased in T4 (T4–T1: 33%–0%; 95% CI: –2.4 to 69.1).

Conclusion and Global Health Implications

An intervention package to reinforce providers’ capacity to prevent and treat PPH can result in substantial HSC utilization and a moderate TXA adoption in cold-chain-challenged humanitarian settings. It could be scaled up with continuous capacity development and supportive supervision to mitigate confusion between existing and new medications, such as the decreased use of oxytocin for PPH treatment. Maintaining investments in cold-chain strengthening remains critical to ensure the quality of oxytocin.