Intra-natal care practices of staff nurses with compliance to professional protocols

Abstract

Background: Intranatal care refers to care given throughout the process of all four stages of labor and is important for both mother and newborn. Safe delivery practice and compliance to intranatal care protocol by trained staff nurses is essential. The objectives were to identify the intra-natal care practices of staff nurses, compare intranatal care practices among the three selected hospitals and explore the barriers to compliance of intranatal care practices by staff nurses.Methods: Cross-sectional observation design was used for the present study. The study was conducted in two phases to fulfil the objectives. Three hospitals were conveniently selected and about 42 delivery events were observed in phase I and 15 staff nurses were interviewed through semi-structured interview schedule to identify the barriers to compliance in phase II.Results: It was found that majority of 8 (57.1%) staff nurses were in the age group of (25-42) years and maximum 13 (86.7%) staff nurses had attended training program related to intranatal care practices. In majority 24 (57.1%) deliveries, sterile technique for vaginal examination was not followed, in 33 (78.6%) deliveries cord pulsation was not assessed and in 39 (92.9%) deliveries baby was not placed on mother’s chest. Lack of required facilities leading to referral and non-cooperation of women during procedures were some identified barriers.Conclusions: The present study findings revealed that the intranatal care practices were inappropriate, they were missing most essential practices that might harm to the mother or baby in future.