Vivian N., 16

Vivian is a hardworking and determined 16-year-old girl in Grade 7 who lives with her parents and six siblings in a rural community. Despite growing up in a family facing significant financial hardship, she is respectful, caring, and responsible, often helping with household chores and looking after her younger siblings. She enjoys reading, singing at school and church, and spending time with friends. Her dream is to complete her education, become a nurse, and improve the health of her community while supporting her family. The family lives in a two-room mud house with an unfinished kitchen, uses a pit latrine, and fetches water from a stream about 20 minutes away. Her father, the sole breadwinner, earns about KSh 1,500 per month as a hotel cleaner, making it difficult to meet basic needs. Metrine presented with severe vaginal bleeding after a home delivery caused by retained products of conception. She was critically ill on arrival due to massive blood loss and required emergency treatment, including intravenous fluids, tranexamic acid, blood transfusion, and definitive management of the retained products.

From a doctor's perspective, postpartum haemorrhage is a medical emergency that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. With prompt intervention, including controlling the bleeding, replacing lost fluids and blood, and addressing the underlying cause, most patients recover without long-term complications. The prognosis is generally good when treatment is provided early. However, delayed or inadequate management can lead to severe complications such as shock, organ failure, or death, making rapid recognition and timely care essential.