Sophie introduces the HAPPEE Project

Sophie Maule is a midwife from the UK and has been volunteering with HHA in Haiti this summer. She is coordinating an exciting new project in partnership with Kings College London (KCL). Here is Sophie’s blog on the first stage of the project:

‘The HAPPEE project (Humanities and Arts in Preventing Pre-Eclampsia complications through community Engagement and Education) is in full swing! Haiti is the first of four countries we are conducting this research in, which we hope will contribute to a reduction in maternal mortality from eclampsia and hypertensive disorders, the second biggest cause of maternal deaths globally, with particularly high rates in Haiti. 

830 mother’s lives are lost every day from preventable causes and the HAPPEE project is one part of the global effort to see improvements in this area. Through interviews and focus group discussions in HCBH and the local community, we were finding out what the baseline knowledge is of pre-eclampsia; its causes, symptoms, progression to eclampsia and barriers to seeking care. Often these barriers are due to poverty, distance from a health facility, lack of information or inadequate services and cultural practices. Through this first phase of the research, we are investigating these issues which will sculpt phase two: creating a culturally sensitive educational resource for HCBH and the surrounding community which will be rolled out in the autumn. 

It’s been a brilliant and productive two weeks in Haiti starting the project, and now we are waiting for the preliminary results via a translation service. We will be back in the autumn, all the while collaborating with the creative team!’

We will share more on this project as it progresses during the summer and autumn. Thank you to Sophie for her amazing work so far!