Project Lead(s): Conrad Tumwine
Obstructed labour is a major cause of maternal mortality in Uganda. The majority of these cases occur in areas that lack basic health infrastructure, such as refugee camps, rural villages, and slums. Labour in these areas are often attended by traditional birth attendants who are unable to detect complications by physical examination. Nucleus Innovations Limited is developing and testing a low-cost, portable, solar rechargeable device that monitors frequency, duration and strength of maternal uterine contractions, along with fetal heart rate to diagnose obstructed labor, dystocia, preterm labor and fetal distress. Goals include validating the efficacy of mCTG over existing tools, and a reduced risk of obstructed labour complications due to early detection by the device.