Knowledge and Utilization of the Partograph among obstetric care givers

This cross-sectional study assessed knowledge and utilization of the partograph among health care workers in south-western Nigeria. Respondents were selected by multi-stage sampling method from primary, secondary and tertiary levels of 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 32.3 % used 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 (82.4 % vs. 19.3%; X2 = 214.6, p < 0.0001). Only 37.3 % of 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. (Afr Reprod Health 2008