Evaluation of health workers' training in use of the partogram

Objective:To assess the impact of training on use of the partogram for labor monitoring among various categories of primary health care workers.Methods:Fifty-six health workers offering delivery services in primary health care facilities were trained to use the partogram and were evaluated after 7 months.Results:A total of 242 partograms of women in labor were plotted over a 1-year period; 76.9% of them were correctly plotted. Community health extension workers (CHEWs) plotted 193 (79.8%) partograms and nurse/midwives plotted 49 (20.2%). Inappropriate action based on the partogram occurred in 6.6%. No statistically significant difference was recorded in the rate of correct plotting and consequent decision-making between nurse/midwives and the CHEWs.Conclusion:Lower cadres of primary health care workers can be effectively trained to use the partogram with satisfactory results, and thus contribute towards improved maternal outcomes in developing countries with scarcity of skilled attendants.