FOR $10 HELP HEALTH SYSTEMS RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE

Kigezi Healthcare Foundation has trained 35 peer mother to help promote safe motherhood. Maternal mortality is still very high in Uganda estimated at at around 200 per 100,000 live births (2022 figures).Maternal deaths in Uganda are primarily driven by preventable causes, with over 80% considered avoidable, including obstetric hemorrhage (34–46%), hypertensive disorders/eclampsia (13–28%), sepsis (17–30%), and unsafe abortions. These deaths are heavily influenced by the "three delays" model: delays in seeking care, reaching facilities, and receiving adequate, timely care. Obstetric haemorrhage (bleeding) is the leading cause (up to 46% of cases), often due to lack of blood, supplies, or delays in management. Hypertensive disorders take the second place with many cases occurring in women referred from other facilities. Other causes include sepsis and infection often linked to poor hygiene during delivery or complications from unsafe abortion.Cultral factors like lack of education or limited decision making power for women lead to delays in seeking care. Empowerment of peer mothers plays a very big role in reducing some of these challenges. peer mothers or expert clints play a critical role in reducing maternal deaths in Uganda by bridging the gap between communities and health facilities, improving health-seeking behaviors, and providing social support. They are trained, experienced mothers who mentor pregnant women and new mothers to promote safe motherhood. 

  Peer mothers encourage early and regular antenatal care visits, which are essential for identifying danger signs before they become fatal. They also promote facility-based deliveries and follow-up, crucial for preventing complications during labor. In rural Uganda, peer-mother counseling has been associated with significant improvements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, rising from 68% to 93% over 12 months, which helps prevent maternal deaths related to HIV. They educate pregnant women on how to recognize danger signs (such as high fever, severe headache, or bleeding) and assist in creating birth plans to ensure timely access to skilled, facility-based care, Peer mothers facilitate community dialogue meetings, educate on child nutrition, and encourage male partner involvement, which is vital for overcoming economic and logistical barriers to seeking care, They track pregnant women in their communities and link them to health facilities, ensuring that high-risk pregnancies are identified early and referred for appropriate care and they also perform follow-up visits to ensure postpartum women and newborns receive care during the critical first few days after birth. 

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