Abstract:
Background: Obstructed and prolonged labor is associated with a high perinatal mortality and morbidity (fetal and newborn deaths, and disease and disability occurring around the time of the birth). It contributes to 22% of the maternal mortality in Ethiopia. The rationale of this study is to sorting out the factors that hampered to implement the partograph properly in the health facilities and to indicate the problems for the expertise to recognize and improve the performance of the pantograph use through different interventions. The correct utilization of the partograph would create a significant reduction in the number of these deaths.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the midwives knowledge of partograph component, assess the extent of its use, determine the factors that hamper its usage, and compare the performance between high and low birth service provider health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: Using a self- administered structured questionnaire, a cross- sectional study was conducted among 330 randomly selected and consenting midwives working in selected health centers and reviewed 509 documents retrospectively to assess the form partograph utilization in the same facility. Data entry and analysis were managing by using Epi info version7.2 software and SPSS for window version23.
Results: This study shows that 209 (67.9%) of the respondents were scored above the mean score and had a good knowledge of the partograph. All facilities were using the modified WHO partograph format. From reviewed 509 partographs across the forty health centers, 286 (56%) charts were monitor as recommended standard, 110(21.94%) charts were monitor sub standardly and 118 (25.3%) charts were not recorded in some components. Specially the two parameters moulding 272 (53.44%) and descent 226 (44.40%) were not recorded at all. The result of viii compared health centers, the low performance (56%) were has more utilized and perform as a standard manner than high performance health centers (44.1%).
Conclusion & Recommendation: The result shown on the above more than fifty percent of respondents have good knowledge about partograph but the utilization is not satisfactory, especially the two parameters moulding and descent parts are not monitored as standard protocol. To improve the utilization of partograph should be placed algorithms strategically for effective interventions, always availing the partograph format and frequent refreshment training should be required.
........................................ Thesis available at ACIPH Library