Low Utilization of Partograph and Its Associated Factors among Obstetric Care Providers in Governmental Health Facilities at West Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Globally, prolonged and obstructed labors were among the common causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the routine use of partograph as a key intervention to avoid prolonged and obstructed labor. Despite the recommendation, studies indicated that the partograph utilization among obstetric care providers (OCPs) is still low. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the level of utilization of partograph and associated factors among obstetric care providers working at health facilities in the West Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia 2019. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1(st) to 22(nd) March 2019. A computer-generated simple random sampling technique was used to select 325 study subjects. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire and using an observational checklist. Additionally, 200 partograph charts were reviewed. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association. RESULTS: A total of 322 obstetric care providers were included in the study, giving a response rate of 99.1%. The level of partograph utilization in the study area was revealed to be 31.1% (95% CI: 25.97-36.13). Only 3% of the reviewed partograph was recorded according to the recommended standard. In this study attending training (AOR = 3.94, 95% CI: 1.99-7.78), availability of partograph (AOR = 5.23, 95% CI: 1.69-16.22), perceived as not time-consuming task (AOR = 3.61, 95% CI: 1.19-10.96), adequate number of OCPs available (AOR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.16-7.33), presence of supervision (AOR = 4.35, 95% CI: 2.11-8.97), having a positive attitude (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.23-5.02), availability of standard protocol in a health facility (AOR = 4.71, 95% CI: 2.31-9.60), and lack of commitment (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.16-0.63) were factors significantly associated with partograph utilization. Conclusion and Recommendation. Partograph utilization in the study area was found to be low. Almost all reviewed partograph charts were not recorded as to the recommended standard. Attending training, availability of partograph, perceived as it is not time-consuming, the available number of OCPs, presence of supervision, having a positive attitude, available standard protocol, and commitment were factors associated with partograph utilization. Therefore, all concerned stakeholders should emphatically consider those identified factors for intervention.