Dessalegn BerhanuAstatikie AyalewFesseha NebreedYisma Engida2021-07-112023-11-062021-07-112023-11-062012-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/27154Background. Globally, there was an estimated of 358,000 maternal deaths. Of which developing countries accounted for 99 % (355,000). Nearly three fifths of the maternal deaths (204,000) occurred in sub-Saharan Africa region alone. More than 70% of all maternal deaths are due to major complications of hemorrhage, infection, unsafe abortion, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and obstructed labor. A number of cases of obstructed labour do happen in health facilities, thus reflecting poor quality of intrapartum care. Use of the partograph is well known best practice for quality monitoring of labour and subsequent prevention of obstructed and prolonged labour. Objective: To assess knowledge and utilization of partograph among Obstetric care givers in public health institutions of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from September 2011 to May 2012. Methods: A cross sectional quantitative study, supplemented by record reviews of 420 partographs, assessed knowledge and utilization of partograph in public health institutions of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and observational checklists. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Logistic regression was used to control confounding variables Results: Knowledge about the partograph was fair: 189 (96.6%) of all the respondents correctly mentioned at least one component of the partograph, 104 (53.3%) correctly explained the function of alert line and 161(82.6%) correctly explained the function of action line. The study has shown that 112 (57.3%) of the obstetric care givers at public health institutions reportedly used partograph to monitor mother in labour. But partograph record reviews showed only 32.9%, 30.70% and 20.70% of the fetal heart rate, cervical dilation and uterine contraction were recorded according to the standard for monitoring of these three labour parameters. There was statistically significant association between utilization of the partograph and working in the health center level of care compared with Hospital level of care [67.9% vs 34.4% Adjusted OR=21.2 (6.6, 68.6)]. Conclusions and recommendations; A significant percentage of obstetric care givers had fair knowledge of partograph and why it is necessary to use it in the management of labour. In spite of fair knowledge of the partograph by obstetric care givers in this study, a large number of the partograph cards reviewed were not recorded or poorly filled. Training of obstetric care givers on use of the partograph with periodic workshops and seminars and mandatory health facility policy are recommended and vital to safety of women in labour in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.en-USPantograph,obstetric care givers ,public health institutionsThesis