Assessing the effectiveness of cervical dilatation in monitoring the progress of labor by health care workers at Pumwani Maternity Hospital

Abstract

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of cervical dilatation in monitoring labor. Variations related to individual health care provider practice are considered. Uniformity of care which is inexpensive and valuable especially in identifying high risk patients with dysfunctional labor requiring intervention or augmentation is also considered. The study area is Pumwani maternity hospital, a hospital that is located in the Nairobi City Council area in Starehe constituency. Its patients are among the poorest and youngest population of women in Kenya aged 14-45 years. The study will target healthcare providers based in Pumwani labor ward and the study population will include all the health care providers at Pumwani maternity hospital. A sample size of 150 participants will be selected, questionnaires and a checklist will be used for data collection. Pretesting of the study will be done at K.N.H labor ward a total of20 health team will be used Data analysis and presentation will be by use of advanced computer packages and will be protected by a password. Data will be presented inform of bars, Pie-charts and proportions. It is anticipated that the research will take eight months and a total ofKsh.152, 149. The information obtained will be used to write reports to department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Ministry of Health that will assist in improving on the quality of maternity care services. The benefits being to reduce maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity ratios, to reduce obstetric trauma and early identification of impending complications and to increase utilization of hospital maternity care services by mothers living in Kenya.