Award for clinical simulation project that reduces maternal mortality in childbirth
An obstetric simulation project created by UAB medical student Carla León could drastically reduce maternal mortality in disadvantaged countries. The project, which has been budgeted at 24,900 euros, has received the Arcadi Oliveres Prize for the best Final Degree Project on social transformation in the field of Health Sciences. The prize is awarded by the Fundació Autònoma Solidària.
“The objective is not only to reduce maternal mortality in this hospital, but also to create a sustainable model, culturally adapted and scalable to other rural regions of the country”, explains medical student Carla León.
With a rate of 835 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, the Central African Republic has a high rate that contrasts sharply with that of European countries, which is between 1 and 8 per 100,000 live births. In fact, 99% of maternal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In Spain, the maternal mortality rate is significantly lower, at 3 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the most important cause of maternal mortality worldwide, being especially prevalent in the African region. It is associated with lack of resources, unskilled birth attendance and shortages of essential obstetric care supplies, such as blood transfusion. In addition, more than 55% of pregnant women in Africa experience anemia during pregnancy, leading to a decrease in reserves in case of postpartum hemorrhage.
The final project of UAB medical student Carla León, Simulation Based Training for Postpartum Hemorrhage Management in a Low Income Setting, was supervised by Dr Iván Hurtado Lupiáñez from the Trias i Pujol University Hospital (Badalona) and lecturer in Medicine at the UAB. Her project was chosen winner of the Arcadi Oliveres Prize in the field of Health Sciences.
“Doing a dissertation on maternal and child health in disadvantaged populations through clinical simulation is very innovative, and it also includes gender perspective and can motivate more people to continue in this line”, said Dr Hurtado.
Carla León's proposal involves implementing a training programme in obstetric emergencies through clinical simulation at the central community hospital in Bangui, the capital of the African country. It consists of simulating an obstetric emergency situation with mannequins so that the team is in a position to resolve the conflict under pressure. The aim is to be able to practice new techniques, master existing ones and subsequently reflect on errors without having to put a patient at risk.
“This type of training, widely established in high-income countries, has proven to be highly effective in improving the clinical skills of healthcare personnel and healthcare outcomes, especially in cases of postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal mortality in low-income countries”, says Carla León, a recent medical graduate who is currently preparing for the MIR as a specialist in gynaecology.
This pilot project proposes an educational intervention based on the “train the trainer” model, which enables the training of local professionals so that they themselves can replicate the programme in other areas of the country. The proposal includes the collection and analysis of clinical data before and after the intervention in order to assess its real impact on reducing postpartum hemorrhage and improving obstetric care. The project has been budgeted at a total of 24,900 euros.
“The objective is not only to reduce maternal mortality in this hospital, but also to create a sustainable model, culturally adapted and scalable to other rural regions of the country,” explains Carla León. “This is a very innovative topic and there are some studies and some interventions, but there is still a lot of work to be done, to bring it closer to many countries that need it”, she continues.
Carla León's proposal has been awarded not only for its academic rigour and innovative approach, but also for its commitment to health equity and international cooperation. The work has been awarded as one of the best TFG on social transformation (Arcadi Oliveres Prize) and has been highlighted in the field of health sciences. According to director Jordi Prat of the Fundació Autònoma Solidària (FAS), which is in charge of organising the awards, “this project represents a significant step towards improving maternal health in particularly vulnerable contexts, and is an inspiring example of how university research can become a transformative tool on a global scale”.