Mothers are at high risk during pregnancy in Uganda, and babies face daunting odds after birth. According to UNICEF, lifetime maternal mortality in Uganda is 1 in 25. Currently, there are estimated to be over 2 million orphaned children in Uganda, many of whom were orphaned when their mothers died during childbirth.

In Luweero and Nakaseke districts, the infant mortality rate is at 120 per 1,000 births, a ratio which has been stagnant for years. According to LUCOF research done in the districts, most newborns die during the first week of birth from infection, respiratory distress, or complications of prematurity. Many of these deaths could be prevented given basic health education and increased access to healthcare.

What we are doing

Prenatal vitamins: Our maternal and neonatal health programs promote and market a “one-a-day” multivitamin containing iron, folic acid and other essential vitamins needed by women of reproductive age.

Malaria prevention during pregnancy: Our programs distribute insecticide-treated bed nets to pregnant women and provide community education about malaria prevention in pregnancy in homes, communities and at health centres.

Clean delivery kits: To make delivery safer by preventing infection, we offer clean delivery kits in multiple communities.

Postpartum hemorrhage prevention and treatment: We promote, distribute and train providers in the safe use of misoprostol, a drug effective in reducing postpartum bleeding.

Maternity care vouchers: Our programs protect maternal health by educating women, families and communities to have a plan in place for a safe delivery. Community education & birth preparedness: Our community education programs focus on educating women, families and communities about how to prepare for childbirth and have a plan in place for a safe delivery.

Encouraging and providing family planning methods to appropriately space births or avoid unwanted or dangerous pregnancies

Preventing obstetric fistula through village education on the cause of fistula

LUCOF makes pregnancy safer for HIV positive adolescents: 13 percent of female HIV positive adolescents have experienced a pregnancy (our study did not investigate their pregnancy outcomes). This notwithstanding, effective PMTCT services are critical for this group. HIV/AIDS treatment centers should be able to identify pregnant adolescents early and ensure that they receive a full range of PMTCT and other antenatal care services in order to avoid transmitting HIV to their babies. This group should be enabled to receive skilled attended birth at delivery and postpartum family planning and HIV services.