Knowledge and utilization of the partograph among obstetric care givers in South West Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study assessed knowledge and utilization of the partograph among health care workers in southwestern Nigeria. Respondents were selected by multi-stage sampling method from primary; secondary and tertiary level care. 719 respondents comprising of CHEWS - 110 (15.3); Auxiliary Nurses - 148 (20.6); Nurse/Midwives - 365 (50.6); Physicians - 96 (13.4) were selected from primary (38.2); secondary (39.1) and tertiary levels (22.7). Only 32.3used the partograph to monitor women in labour. Partograph use was reported significantly more frequently by respondents in tertiary level compared with respondents from primary/secondary levels of care (82.4vs. 19.3; X2 = 214.6; p 0.0001). Only 37.3of respondents who were predominantly from the tertiary level of care could correctly mention at least one component of the partograph (X2 = 139.1; p 0.0001). The partograph is utilized mainly in tertiary health facilities; knowledge about the partograph is poor. Though affordable; the partograph is commonly not used to monitor the Nigerian woman in labour