Utilization of the partograph in primary health care facilities in southwestern Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To assess knowledge about the partograph and its utilization among maternity care providers in primary health care in southwestern Nigeria.


METHODS
Two hundred and seventy-five maternity care providers comprising of 64 CHEWS (23.3%), 74 Auxiliary midwives (26.9%), 123 Nurses/midwives (44.7%) and 14 medical doctors (5.1%) were interviewed in primary health centres and private hospitals in three states in southwestern Nigeria using a multi-stage sampling strategy. Knowledge about the partograph and assessment of labour were assessed with an interviewer-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
About a quarter of respondents, 75 (27.3%) had received prior training on the partograph. Only 25 (9.1%) reported that the partograpgh was available in their labour wards. Knowledge about the partograph was poor; only 18 (16.0%) of all respondents correctly mentioned at least one component part of the partograph, 21 (7.6%) correctly explained function of the alert line and 30 (10.9%) correctly explained function of the action line. Prior training significantly influenced knowledge about the partograph (gamma2 = 49.2; p < 0.05). Knowledge about assessment of labour was also poor: less than 50% of all respondents knew the normal duration of labour and just about 50% understood assessment for progress of labour.


CONCLUSIONS
The partograpgh is not utilized for labour management in Nigeria. Knowledge about partograph and assessment during labour is grossly deficient. Findings suggest poor quality intrapartum care. Effective interventions to improve labour supervision skills and partograph utilization are urgently required.
Fawole
A O
AO
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. fawoleo@yahoo.co.uk
Adekanle
D A
DA
Hunyinbo
K I
KI
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D008880:Midwifery; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009549:Nigeria; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires