Use and completion of partograph during labour is associated with a\xa0reduced incidence of birth asphyxia: a retrospective study at a peri-urban setting in Ghana

Reindolf Anokye,Naomi Gyamfi,Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah,Agyei Gyimah Akwasi,Evelyn Amekudzie,Judith Anokye,Isaac Owusu,Enoch Acheampong,Amy Budu-Ainooson

doi:10.1186/s41043-019-0171-7

Reindolf Anokye, Naomi Gyamfi + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-019-0171-7

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Abstract

BackgroundMorbidity of birth asphyxia has been estimated to be 42 million disability-adjusted life years. The study sought to assess the impact of the use and completion of partograph during labour on reducing birth asphyxia at the St Anthony’s Hospital, Dzodze, in the Volta Region of Ghana.MethodsA retrospective study design using a quantitative approach was adopted for the study. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 200 folders of labouring women who were admitted and delivered at St Anthony’s Hospital, Dzodze, between 1st May 2015 and 30th April 2016. A structured checklist, which was developed by using labour and foetal monitoring parameters based on the standards of the World Health Organization partograph usage, was used to review all the 200 existing maternal records.ResultsThe findings revealed that partographs were used by midwives at St Anthony’s Hospital with the majority of the maternal folders fully completed. The use and completion of partograph were found to be associated with less non-asphyxiated birth outcomes. Labours which were monitored with partograph were 4.29 times less likely to result in birth asphyxia [AOR (95% CI) 4.29 (1.35–14.81)], and those that were monitored with a completed partograph were 5.3 times less likely to result in birth asphyxia [AOR (95% CI) 5.31 (2.011–16.04)].ConclusionMidwives used partographs during labour at St Anthony’s Hospital. The use and completion of partograph were significantly associated with a reduced incidence of birth asphyxia at the hospital. Birth asphyxia could be reduced if partographs are used and completed by midwives during labour in all cases.

Highlights

Obstructed labour is a significant cause of maternal death and short- and long-term disability [1]
(95% CI) 4.29 (1.35–14.81)], and those that were monitored with a completed partograph were 5.3 times less likely to result in birth asphyxia [AOR 5.31 (2.011–16.04)]
This study showed that labours monitored with the partograph were 4.29 times less likely to result in birth asphyxia

Summary

Introduction

Obstructed labour is a significant cause of maternal death and short- and long-term disability [1]. In developing countries, obstructed labour remains one of the primary causes of birth asphyxia [2]. The effects of asphyxia in the short term could be multi-organ dysfunction or even death [5] and could result in the development of cerebral palsy; developmental delay; visual, hearing, and intellectual impairment; epilepsy; and learning and behavioural problems in the long term [5, 6]. Birth asphyxia is concomitant with a wide range of neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders and disability in life [7]. Morbidity of birth asphyxia has been estimated to be 42 million disability-adjusted life years. The study sought to assess the impact of the use and completion of partograph during labour on reducing birth asphyxia at the St Anthony’s Hospital, Dzodze, in the Volta Region of Ghana

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