Knowledge and attitudes of midwives on the use of the partogram: a study among midwives in the Tamale Metropolis

BACKGROUND: The partogram is the most effective tool to use to monitor the progress of labour and complications associated with labour. The main objective of this study was to assess the knowledge level of midwives on the effective use of the partogram in monitoring the progress of labour in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on 140 midwives selected using random sampling technique from March to July, 2011. RESULTS: The study revealed that all respondents had knowledge of the supposed use of the partogram. However, the study also identified inadequate knowledge on the proper use of the tool (as observation showed that some of the partogram sheets were inadequately filled). Inadequate knowledge, inadequate staffing (1.0 % of respondents) and extra workload on the few midwives (2.6 %) were some of the factors that militated against the effective use of the partogram. There were enough partogram sheets in the health facilities under study as 91.4 % of respondents had access to the partogram. CONCLUSION: Midwives in Ghana know about the supposed use of partogram as a monitoring tool for labour; however inadequate knowledge on the proper use of the tool and inadequate staffing militated against effective use. We recommended constant refresher training on the use of the partogram and also training of more midwives to enhance effective utilisation of the partogram.