TY - JOUR T1 - Oxytocin: taking the heat JF - Global Health: Science and Practice JO - GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT SP - 259 LP - 260 DO - 10.9745/GHSP-D-14-00102 VL - 2 IS - 3 AU - Stephen Hodgins Y1 - 2014/08/01 UR - http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/2/3/259.abstract N2 - Oxytocin-in-Uniject satisfied the standards of its temperature-time indicator (TTI) in severe home storage conditions, although that required resupply every 30 days—a logistically onerous programmatic standard. Possible advances include: (1) incorporating TTIs with packaged batches of less expensive and more widely used conventional vials of oxytocin; (2) using TTIs calibrated more closely to the actual temperature sensitivity of oxytocin; and (3) researching whether a lower dose of oxytocin would be equally efficacious in preventing postpartum hemorrhage. Globally, the leading cause of maternal deaths is postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). The single most important preventive intervention for PPH is active management of the third stage of labor, the most important element of which is administration of oxytocin (misoprostol, an orally administered drug, is almost as efficacious). It is encouraging that oxytocin now appears to be widely used for this purpose.1 Nevertheless, as Smith,2 in this issue of Global Health: Science and Practice (GHSP), points out, “challenges remain with … distribution, proper storage, and … maintaining a regular supply of the medicine.” There are reasons, in particular, to … ER -