New maternal health protocols launched

The guidelines, formally handed over to obstetrics teams at the Spanish Town Hospital on Monday, represent a significant advancement in the nation's commitment to improving health outcomes for mothers and infants.

State Minister in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Krystal Lee, MP, emphasised the critical importance of the new protocols during the handover ceremony.

"We recognise the immense burden of risks women are exposed to when receiving care during childbirth, and those faced by newborn babies in the first few weeks of life," Minister Lee said. "It is our desire to ensure the best service in maternal and newborn care, and to improve outcomes for all involved."

Developed by the Guideline Development Committee (GDC) under the leadership of maternofoetal medicine specialist Dr. Leroy Campbell, the protocols address the leading contributors to maternal morbidity and mortality in Jamaica. These include postpartum haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, venous thromboembolism, sepsis, cardiac disease, sickle cell disease, and obesity.

The initiative comes as more Jamaican women seek care during pregnancy, with the Ministry strengthening measures to reduce preventable deaths. Minister Lee noted that access to quality maternal care is improving, and the country is seeing a corresponding decrease in maternal deaths.

Preliminary data for 2024 shows Jamaica recorded a maternal mortality ratio of 133 per 100,000 live births — a sustained decline from the pandemic peak of 211.3 per 100,000 in 2021. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets a global maternal mortality ratio of less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

The new guidelines were developed through rigorous literature reviews, expert collaboration, and multiple rounds of edits to ensure clarity, applicability, and alignment with international standards. Health officials confirmed the protocols will be periodically updated as new evidence emerges to maintain currency and effectiveness.

Monday's ceremony also saw participation from paediatricians, neonatal nurses, and midwives, alongside the launch of a newly revised Policies, Procedures and Protocols Manual for Neonatal Care Units — the first comprehensive update to neonatal guidelines in twenty years.

The obstetrics protocols handover follows the Ministry's post-hurricane Maternal Health Outreach, which targeted parishes hardest-hit by Hurricane Melissa. More than 500 pregnant and lactating mothers received health checks, psychosocial counselling, and ultrasound sonography services through the initiative.

Health officials say the dual launch of updated obstetrics and neonatal protocols signals a new era in maternal and child healthcare delivery across Jamaica's public health system.