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Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of the Partograph among Health Professionals in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Published: 10 March 2013
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Abstract

Labor and delivery are unpredictable events, which if not monitored properly can result in a disabled or a fatal state. The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes the use of the partograph to monitor and improve the management of labor and to support decision-making regarding interventions. However, little is known about the status of knowledge and utilization of the partograph in Amhara region, Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of the partograph and its utilization. A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1 to 30, 2012 among 292 health professionals working in public health institutions of the region, using a structured interviewer administered ques-tionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with knowledge of the partograph and obstetric care. Utilization status of the partograph was assessed from 160 purposively selected delivery charts using structured checklists. More than half (53.4%) of the study participants had good knowledge of the partograph. Females were 2 times more likely to have good knowledge of the partograph than males (AOR=2.0, 95% CI= (1.2, 3.6). Similarly, those who had previous obstetric training were 2 time more likely to have good knowledge of the partograph than otherwise (AOR=2.1, 95% CI= (1.3, 3.7). However, participants’ level of knowledge of components ofthe partograph was very poor. While only 26.6% of participants were able to mention 50%or more of com-ponentsof the partograph; females, midwives, and those having prior obstetric training were found to have better knowledge of components of the partograph than their counter parts (AOR=3.3, 95% CI (1.9, 5.6), (AOR=4.9, 95% CI (2.4, 9.9)and (AOR=2.0, 95% CI (1.1, 3.6)) respectively. In this study, the level of knowledge of obstetric care was found to be poor. Although it wasrevealed that majority of the participants had favorable attitude towards the use of partograph, only 29% of the paragraph papers reviewed was properly filled to monitor the progress of labor. Despite significant number of study participants reported that the partograph is useful to monitor laborand make timely decision, their level of knowledge of the partograph and its components was generally poor. Presence of prior training, participants’ sex and profession were the variables that had influenced the level of knowledge of the partograph and obstetric care. Favorable attitude by itself was inadequate to ensure use of the partograph. Periodic on-job training regarding to obstetric care and on the partograph should be provided to all obstetric care providersparticularly to males and nurses by profession in the region. Regular supportive supervision is also needed to motivate staffs to utilize the partograph and help them become dedicated to record and document their findings.

Published in Science Journal of Clinical Medicine (Volume 2, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjcm.20130202.11
Page(s) 26-42
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Partograph, Alert Line, Action Line, Obstetric Care

References
[1] WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank: Trends in Maternal Mortality 1990 to 2010. Estimates Developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2012.
[2] Central Statistical Agency [Ethiopia] and ICF International: Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Addis Ababa. Ethiopia and Calverton, Maryland, USA: Central Statistical Agency and ICF International; 2012.
[3] WHO: Maternal Mortality Update 2002. A Focus in Emer-gency Obstetrics Care UNFPA, New York 2003:4-9.
[4] Lawn, J., Kerber, K.: Opportunities for Africa’s newborns: Practical data, policy and programmatic support for newborn care in Africa. World Health Organization on behalf of The Partnership for Maternal Newborn and ChildHealth; 2006.
[5] WHO: The partograph an essential tool to make decision during labor, maternal and neonatal health. best practice; 2002.
[6] Ganesh D. Preventing Prolonged Labor by Using Partograph: Internet Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2007, 7 (1).
[7] WHO: Preventing prolonged Labour. A Practical Guide. The Partograph Part I. Principle and Strategy WHO/FHE/MSM/93.8.
[8] WHO: Preventing Prolonged Labour. A Practical Guide. The partograph. Part II. User’s Manual: WHO/FHE/MSM/93.9.
[9] WHO: Preventing Prolonged Labour. A Practical Guide. The Partograph Part III. Facilitators Guide: WHO/FHE/MSM/93.10.
[10] WHO: Preventing prolonged Labour. Part IV a practical guide: WHO/FHE/MSM/93.11.
[11] WHO: World Health Organization; Fact sheet, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health. 2012.
[12] Margaret K. Use and documentation of partograph in urban hospitals in Lilongwe- Malawi health workers’ perspective. University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine; Institute of Health and Society 2012.
[13] Lavender T., Omoni, G., Lee, K., Wakasiaka, S., Watiti, J., Mathai, M. Students’ experiences of using the partograph in Kenyan labour wards. African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health 2011, 5 (3): 117-122.
[14] Umezulike, A. C., Onah, E., Okar, J. M. Use of the partograph among medical personnel in Enugu, Nigeria. International Journal of Gynaecolory and Obstetrics. 1999, 65 (2): 203-205.
[15] Opiah, et al: Knowledge and Utilization of partograph among Midwives in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Afr J Reprod Health 2012, 16:125–132.
[16] Fawole AO, Hunyinbo KI, Adekanle DA: Knowledge and Utilization of the Partograph among obstetric care givers in South West Nigeria. AfrReprod Health 2008, 12:22–29.
[17] Oladapo OT, Daniel OJ, Olatunji AO. Knowledge and use of the partograph among healthcare personnel at the peripheral maternity centres in Nigeria. J ObstetGynaecol Umezulike AC, Onah HE, Okaro JM. Use of the partograph among medical personnel in Enugu, Nigeria. Int J Gyne-colObstet 1999; 65 (2): 203 – 205.
[18] Engida Y., etal, Knowledge and utilization of partograph among obstetric care givers in public health institutions of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2013, 13:17.
[19] ARHB: Amhara National Regional State Health Bureau. Annual Performance Report, 2012.
[20] Navneet M. Partograph Revisited. International Journal of Clinical Cases and Investigations. 2011, 3 (1), 1:6.
[21] Fawole AO, Adekanle DA, Hunyinbo KI. Utilization of the partograph in primary health care facilities in southwestern Nigeria: Niger J ClinPract 2010, 13(2):200-4.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Fantu Abebe, Dereje Birhanu, Worku Awoke, Tadesse Ejigu. (2013). Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of the Partograph among Health Professionals in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Science Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2(2), 26-42. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjcm.20130202.11

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    ACS Style

    Fantu Abebe; Dereje Birhanu; Worku Awoke; Tadesse Ejigu. Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of the Partograph among Health Professionals in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Sci. J. Clin. Med. 2013, 2(2), 26-42. doi: 10.11648/j.sjcm.20130202.11

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    AMA Style

    Fantu Abebe, Dereje Birhanu, Worku Awoke, Tadesse Ejigu. Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of the Partograph among Health Professionals in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Sci J Clin Med. 2013;2(2):26-42. doi: 10.11648/j.sjcm.20130202.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjcm.20130202.11,
      author = {Fantu Abebe and Dereje Birhanu and Worku Awoke and Tadesse Ejigu},
      title = {Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of the Partograph among Health Professionals in Amhara Region, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Science Journal of Clinical Medicine},
      volume = {2},
      number = {2},
      pages = {26-42},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjcm.20130202.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjcm.20130202.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjcm.20130202.11},
      abstract = {Labor and delivery are unpredictable events, which if not monitored properly can result in a disabled or a fatal state. The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes the use of the partograph to monitor and improve the management of labor and to support decision-making regarding interventions. However, little is known about the status of knowledge and utilization of the partograph in Amhara region, Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of the partograph and its utilization. A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1 to 30, 2012 among 292 health professionals working in public health institutions of the region, using a structured interviewer administered ques-tionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with knowledge of the partograph and obstetric care. Utilization status of the partograph was assessed from 160 purposively selected delivery charts using structured checklists. More than half (53.4%) of the study participants had good knowledge of the partograph. Females were 2 times more likely to have good knowledge of the partograph than males (AOR=2.0, 95% CI= (1.2, 3.6). Similarly, those who had previous obstetric training were 2 time more likely to have good knowledge of the partograph than otherwise (AOR=2.1, 95% CI= (1.3, 3.7). However, participants’ level of knowledge of components ofthe partograph was very poor. While only 26.6% of participants were able to mention 50%or more of com-ponentsof the partograph; females, midwives, and those having prior obstetric training were found to have better knowledge of components of the partograph than their counter parts (AOR=3.3, 95% CI (1.9, 5.6), (AOR=4.9, 95% CI (2.4, 9.9)and (AOR=2.0, 95% CI (1.1, 3.6)) respectively. In this study, the level of knowledge of obstetric care was found to be poor. Although it wasrevealed that majority of the participants had favorable attitude towards the use of partograph, only 29% of the paragraph papers reviewed was properly filled to monitor the progress of labor. Despite significant number of study participants reported that the partograph is useful to monitor laborand make timely decision, their level of knowledge of the partograph and its components was generally poor. Presence of prior training, participants’ sex and profession were the variables that had influenced the level of knowledge of the partograph and obstetric care. Favorable attitude by itself was inadequate to ensure use of the partograph. Periodic on-job training regarding to obstetric care and on the partograph should be provided to all obstetric care providersparticularly to males and nurses by profession in the region. Regular supportive supervision is also needed to motivate staffs to utilize the partograph and help them become dedicated to record and document their findings.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of the Partograph among Health Professionals in Amhara Region, Ethiopia
    AU  - Fantu Abebe
    AU  - Dereje Birhanu
    AU  - Worku Awoke
    AU  - Tadesse Ejigu
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    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjcm.20130202.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjcm.20130202.11
    T2  - Science Journal of Clinical Medicine
    JF  - Science Journal of Clinical Medicine
    JO  - Science Journal of Clinical Medicine
    SP  - 26
    EP  - 42
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2732
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjcm.20130202.11
    AB  - Labor and delivery are unpredictable events, which if not monitored properly can result in a disabled or a fatal state. The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes the use of the partograph to monitor and improve the management of labor and to support decision-making regarding interventions. However, little is known about the status of knowledge and utilization of the partograph in Amhara region, Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of the partograph and its utilization. A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1 to 30, 2012 among 292 health professionals working in public health institutions of the region, using a structured interviewer administered ques-tionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with knowledge of the partograph and obstetric care. Utilization status of the partograph was assessed from 160 purposively selected delivery charts using structured checklists. More than half (53.4%) of the study participants had good knowledge of the partograph. Females were 2 times more likely to have good knowledge of the partograph than males (AOR=2.0, 95% CI= (1.2, 3.6). Similarly, those who had previous obstetric training were 2 time more likely to have good knowledge of the partograph than otherwise (AOR=2.1, 95% CI= (1.3, 3.7). However, participants’ level of knowledge of components ofthe partograph was very poor. While only 26.6% of participants were able to mention 50%or more of com-ponentsof the partograph; females, midwives, and those having prior obstetric training were found to have better knowledge of components of the partograph than their counter parts (AOR=3.3, 95% CI (1.9, 5.6), (AOR=4.9, 95% CI (2.4, 9.9)and (AOR=2.0, 95% CI (1.1, 3.6)) respectively. In this study, the level of knowledge of obstetric care was found to be poor. Although it wasrevealed that majority of the participants had favorable attitude towards the use of partograph, only 29% of the paragraph papers reviewed was properly filled to monitor the progress of labor. Despite significant number of study participants reported that the partograph is useful to monitor laborand make timely decision, their level of knowledge of the partograph and its components was generally poor. Presence of prior training, participants’ sex and profession were the variables that had influenced the level of knowledge of the partograph and obstetric care. Favorable attitude by itself was inadequate to ensure use of the partograph. Periodic on-job training regarding to obstetric care and on the partograph should be provided to all obstetric care providersparticularly to males and nurses by profession in the region. Regular supportive supervision is also needed to motivate staffs to utilize the partograph and help them become dedicated to record and document their findings.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Jhpiego Corporation, Amhara Regional Office

  • Bahir Dar University: College of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Public Health

  • Bahir Dar University: College of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Public Health

  • Bahir Dar University: College of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Public Health

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