Misoprostol for Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) in Home Births
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 that induces uterine contractions, has been proposed as a low
cost, easy-to-use option for prevention and treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH),
especially in settings where injectable uterotonics are not yet available or feasible to use.
A double-blinded individual randomized controlled study of misoprostol versus placebo in home
deliveries in four districts in the Badakshan Province in Afghanistan. The study will recruit
pregnant women who are likely to deliver at home. All women enrolled in the study will
receive 600 mcg misoprostol to be self-administered as prophylaxis for PPH after delivery of
their baby (ies) and before delivery of the placenta.
Women who experience a PPH will be randomized to receive either: a) standard of care + 800
mcg misoprostol (four 200 mcg tablets) or b) standard of care + four placebo tablets
resembling misoprostol. In this setting, standard of care is referral.