title: Knowledge and utilization of the partograph: A cross-sectional survey among obstetric care providers in urban referral public health institutions in northwest and southwest Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The enormous challenge to maternal well-being with associated maternal wastages during labour has remained an unsurmountable problem in Cameroon which reflects the current high maternal mortality rate. Evidence abounds that cost-effective and affordable health interventions like the use of the partograph will contribute to curb the alarming number of intrapartum maternal deaths. However, little is known about the level of knowledge and utilization of this simple life-saving tool in the North-and South-West Regions, Cameroon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a self-administered structured questionnaire, a cross-sectional study was conducted from January 4th-March 25th 2016 among non-physician obstetric care providers (OCPs) across urban public health institutions in these regions. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with good knowledge and routine utilization of the partograph.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 79 eligible participants, 71 (89.9%) took part in the study. The mean age of the respondents was 37.9±10.0 years with majority being female (85.9%). Less than one-third (29.6%) of the respondents had good knowledge on the partograph and only 23 (32.4%) routinely used it in monitoring labour. OCPs working in Maternal and Infant Welfare Clinics were about 4 times more likely than those working in Regional/District Hospitals to have good knowledge on the partograph [AOR = 3.88 (95% CI:1.07-14.04)], p = 0.04. Little or no knowledge of the partograph and poor staff strength in the study centres were factors militating against its routine use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The knowledge and use of the partograph in this study is sub-optimal. Regular in-service training of OCPs superimposed with periodic workshops and seminars, provision of reasonable staff numbers, and mandatory institutional policies on routine use of the partograph are recommended as vital first steps towards ensuring the safety of women in labour in the North-and South-West Regions of Cameroon.
authors.affiliation: Islamic Medicalized Health Centre, Babessi, Cameroon.|Galactic Corps Research Group (GCRG), Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Carlson-Babila
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6919-6537
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Sama
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Noah F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Takah
authors.affiliation: Galactic Corps Research Group (GCRG), Buea, Cameroon.|Saint Blaise Catholic Hospital, Bamenda, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Valery K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Danwe
authors.affiliation: Galactic Corps Research Group (GCRG), Buea, Cameroon.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Buea Regional Hospital, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Uzeru Forchu
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Galactic Corps Research Group (GCRG), Buea, Cameroon.|Catholic General Hospital, Njinikom, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Therence Nwana
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Dingana
authors.affiliation: Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital, Yaoundé, and Department of Surgery, University Teaching Hospital Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Fru F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Angwafo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D011635:Public Health Administration; D012923:Social Class