Wolverhampton Lecturer authors landmark Lancet study on maternal health

Wolverhampton Lecturer authors landmark Lancet study on maternal health

Dr Md Asiful Islam, Lecturer in Biomedical Science at the University of Wolverhampton, has been named first author on a groundbreaking study published in The Lancet—the world’s leading medical journal (Impact Factor: 88.5).

The study, titled “Causes of and Risk Factors for Postpartum Haemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” is the most comprehensive of its kind, analysing data from 327 studies and over 847 million women. It was conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Birmingham and funded by the Gates Foundation.

New insights into the leading cause of maternal mortality

The research identifies uterine atony as the primary cause of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)—responsible for over 70% of cases—alongside other contributing factors such as genital tract trauma, retained placenta, and coagulopathies.

The study also categorises risk factors into weak, moderate, and strong associations. Those with the strongest links to PPH include:

• Anaemia
• Previous PPH
• Caesarean birth
• Female genital mutilation
• Sepsis
• No antenatal care
• Multiple pregnancy
• Placenta praevia

Global impact, local leadership

“This work is not only a robust evidence synthesis but also a guide for how healthcare systems can better identify and support women at high risk of postpartum haemorrhage,” said Dr Asiful.

“By aligning clinical practice with the data, we can better prevent maternal deaths, particularly in low-resource settings.”

Dr Asiful’s research focuses on evidence synthesis in clinical medicine and global health, and this publication marks a major milestone for both his academic career and the University of Wolverhampton’s contribution to global maternal health.

 Visit The Lancet website to access the full article.