About C-Safe
What is the Problem?
Caesarean section is considered a life-saving procedure for pregnant women and their babies. Yet, in low and middle- income countries, mothers who give birth by caesarean section are 100 times more likely to die than those having the procedure in high-income countries. In these settings, caesarean sections can also contribute to life-long health problems that affect the women's quality of life and their ability to safely have more children. Their babies are also at high risk of dying during or soon after caesarean section.
The three main reasons for poor outcomes after caesarean section in low- and middle-income countries are:
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Inappropriate caesarean sections, performed 'too many, too soon' or 'too little, too late'
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Unsafe practices in performing the procedure
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Sub-standard care in labour, which leads to complicated caesarean sections in advanced labour
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Our Aim
We propose a 5-year Programme that aims to improve mother and baby outcomes following caesarean sections in low and middle-income countries.
C-Safe plans to implement three work packages:
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Ensure caesarean sections are done for the right reasons
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Improve their safety
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Promote safe and respectful care in labour resulting in vaginal births, including safe birth with instruments
The C-Safe intervention will be implemented using a comprehensive training Programme, empowerment of local opinion leaders and mothers, team-based working, and learning through audit and feedback, in four hospitals each in India and Tanzania.
What is Needed?
There is no single solution to these complex problems. We need to both improve the safety of caesarean sections and ensure they are only done when needed. To do this, C-Safe will co-develop evidence-based interventions that are acceptable, equitable, sustainable and which can be adapted or scaled-up cost-effectively across settings, by collaborating with women and their support networks, healthcare providers, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders.
Our mission at C-Safe is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates by providing education and resources to healthcare providers and mothers. We believe that every mother and baby deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of where they live.
Through our 5-year program, we aim to make a significant impact in areas with high mortality rates. .
