Misoprostol for Postpartum Hemorrhage: Middle East and North Africa: Regional Perspectives on Challenges and Opportunities

Misoprostol, an oral tablet originally developed to treat gastric ulcers, is also effective in preventing and treating PPH. It is particularly useful in settings with limited refrigeration, and where skilled health professionals and oxytocin, the current standard of care, are not available or accessible. This report summarizes the findings of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional survey, conducted in January 2011. Eleven individuals and organizations working at the regional regional level described their activities, shared their motivations for involvement in misoprostol work, discussed prevailing barriers to increasing access to and availability of misoprostol for PPH, and identified strategies for addressing them.