Abstract
IntroductionThe discrepancy regarding maternal mortality continues to be a health concern between developing and developed countries. The majority of global maternal deaths occur in developing countries, specifically, in the sub-Sahara African region which alone accounts for more than half of these deaths. It has been indicated that utilization of the partograph was significantly associated with improved maternal and neonatal outcomes of labour and that is why the World Health Organization recommends the universal use of the tool during labour. Therefore, this study has assessed the level of partograph use and its associated factors among obstetric caregivers in East Gojam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA health facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected obstetric caregivers in Northwest Ethiopia. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and a clinical observation checklist. The data were entered into Epidata version 3.1, and cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 24.0 statistical software.ResultAbout three quarters, or 198 (72.53%), of the obstetric caregivers, had attained diploma level of education. However, 153 (56.04%) of the obstetric caregivers had what was considered to be good knowledge about the partograph, but utilization of the tool was slightly lower than their level of knowledge, 147 (53.85%). Utilization of the partograph was significantly higher among obstetric caregivers holding a Bachelor of Science degree and above, than Diploma holders (AOR (95% C.I) 2.07 (1.15–3.75)) and the use was higher among those who were regularly working in the delivery ward compared to those regularly working in the Adult Outpatient Department (AOR (95% C.I): 2.25 (1.07–4.72)). Moreover, caregivers who had a good knowledge about the partograph and who had received on the job training in obstetric care were also more likely to use the partograph during labour and delivery (AOR (95% C.I): 1.79 (1.05–3.06) and 4.85 (2.63–8.96)) respectively.ConclusionThe results of this study revealed that although more than half of obstetric caregivers had a good knowledge of the partograph, the actual utilization of the tool was slightly lower than the knowledge they had. Therefore, in this study, we suggest that providing on the job obstetric care training for obstetric caregivers, about the partograph in particular, would improve partograph utilization.
Highlights
The discrepancy regarding maternal mortality continues to be a health concern between developing and developed countries
The results of this study revealed that more than half of obstetric caregivers had a good knowledge of the partograph, the actual utilization of the tool was slightly lower than the knowledge they had
In this study, we suggest that providing on the job obstetric care training for obstetric caregivers, about the partograph in particular, would improve partograph utilization
Summary
The discrepancy regarding maternal mortality continues to be a health concern between developing and developed countries. It has been indicated that utilization of the partograph was significantly associated with improved maternal and neonatal outcomes of labour and that is why the World Health Organization recommends the universal use of the tool during labour. The discrepancy between developing and developed countries in relation to maternal mortality continues to be reflected in the overall level of reproductive health care and its outcomes [1]. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that there were 303,000 maternal deaths yielding a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 216 deaths per 100,000 live births. Utilization of the partograph was related to improved maternal outcomes of labour [4]; the World Health Organization recommends it to be used universally during labour [5]. Its use is critical in preventing and reducing the incidence of both maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality by reducing unnecessary interventions and labour complication [1, 7]
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