Developing standards for postpartum hemorrhage in a resource-limited country

Traditionally, standards of care have been developed by a panel of experts and then implemented by a multidisciplinary team. We studied the feasibility of involving health professionals of all grades and policymakers in the establishment of standards for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in Malawi. The team established these standards using evidence from Malawi national guidelines and World Health Organization (WHO) manuals. They agreed on 10 objectives and developed the structure, process, and outcome for each objective. The standards addressed different aspects of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The involvement of both health professionals and policymakers might promote ownership, sustainability, and allocation of resources for implementation.