Assessment of partogram use during labour in Rujumbura Health Sub District, Rukungiri District, Uganda

Background: A partogram is a universal tool for monitoring labour. It is used for labour management in Rujumbura HSD, Rukungiri District. However, the District Health Officer reported only 30% use of a partogram. The study intended to find out why the low use, and suggest strategies in scaling up.
Objectives: To establish extent of use of a partogram, health facility and health workers' factors that affected its use during labour plus the relationship between foetal Apgar score and its use.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving observations, record reviews and interviewing of staff in 8 health facilities (4 Public and 4 Private Not For Profit) in Rujumbura HSD in Rukungiri district was conducted from May 23^rd to 27^th June 2008. It employed both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection.
Results: The partogram was used in 69.9% of deliveries. The partographs that fulfilled the standard monitoring of foetal heart rate were only 2%. There were few trained health workers and lack of guidelines on partogram use. A good Apgar score was associated with standard foetal monitoring and was statistically significant (P < 0.001).
Conclusions and recommendations: There was poor use of partograms during labour mainly affected by health input factors. We recommended training of health workers on partogram use, provision of guidelines and adequate resources.