LSHTM 54d ago

Maternal mortality remains one of the most pressing challenges in global health. Although efforts over the past decades have reduced death rates, progress has slowed – particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where most maternal deaths occur. This film presents the missing evidence which suggests anaemia may be the hidden factor driving maternal deaths. It shares insights from the clinicians who run the WOMAN Trials and collected the data, as well as powerful personal accounts from women in Pakistan, Nigeria and Tanzania. It calls for global action to reduce the prevalence and severity of anaemia in women and adolescent girls, with the ultimate aim of reducing maternal deaths. What this video covers - Why postpartum haemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal death - What the WOMAN and WOMAN‑2 trials discovered about tranexamic acid - Why anaemia puts women at extreme risk – even with “normal” blood loss - How poverty, nutrition, gender norms, and lack of antenatal care fuel the crisis - The generational impact of untreated anaemia - What the upcoming WOMAN‑3 trial aims to uncover Read more: thebloodtrials.org/the-missing-evidence/ Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction 01:12 — Who is Professor Nike Bello? 01:27 — Why postpartum haemorrhage kills so quickly 02:37 — The WOMAN Trial 03:11 — The WOMAN‑2 Trial and unexpected results 04:13 — Why anaemia changes everything 05:00 — Listening to women’s stories 06:10 — Why anaemia is widespread in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa 08:23 — Nutritional anaemia and poverty 10:22 — Menstruation myths and missed diagnoses 11:09 — Sana’s story 12:36 — What the trials mean for the future 13:41 — The WOMAN‑3 Trial 14:16 — A message to policymakers and clinicians