Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Midwives Towards Partograph Use In Gombe Hospital, Butambala District
Abstract
Back ground: Maternal deaths and complications attributable to obstructed and prolonged labour
would be prevented by cost-effective and affordable health interventions like the use of partograph.
Despite partograph being accepted and recommended as an effective tool in detecting abnormal
labour during the first stage of labour, it has not realized its universal and effective use. In Uganda,
reports indicated very low use of partograph with only 14% of the partograph records having correct
documentation of the events monitored in labour.
Objective of the study: The main objective of this study was to establish knowledge, attitude and
practice of midwives towards partograph use in Gombe Hospital.
Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study design employing quantitative and qualitative methods
was used. The study was carried out at Gombe Hospital in Butambala District found in central
Uganda. The target respondents were all the midwives in Gombe Hospital. A sample size of 26
respondents was interviewed. A simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents.
Data was collected using a questionnaire. Before data collection, the questionnaires were pre-tested
on 5 participants from Masaka Hospital. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package EPIINFO
version 7.0.
Results: The majority 12 (46.10%) of the respondents were in the age range of 26-35years. 17
(65.40%) were females while 9 (34.60%) were male. 14 (53.80%) were married while 8(30.80%)
were single and 21 (80.80 %) of them at least had attained a certificate as the highest level of
education, 4 (15.40%) attained Diploma and 1 (3.80%) attained Degree. Majority 19(73.10%) of the
total respondents were able to give a meaning of a partograph correctly. Less than half 8(30.80%) of
the respondents at least knew the lines found on a patograph. 17 (65.40%) of the respondents agreed
that use of partograph important in managing labor. Most 14(53.80%) of them were uncertain that
use of partograph help to improve the quality of care. Majority 10(38.50%) of them disagreed that all
categories of midwives can use a partograph. Majority 14 (53.80%) of the respondents said that they
had ever used a partograph. 9 (34.70%) of them revealed that they used a partograph during recent
delivery.
Conclusion: The study concluded that the majority of the respondents had less knowledge, negative
attitudes towards partograph use and never used a partograph during their recent deliveries.
Recommendation: The study recommended that the district health teams and corporate bodies
should make information on partograph use available to their health facilities so as to increase
awareness on the partograph use. This could be achieved by inviting speakers on the subject.
Collections
- Bachelors in Nursing [415]