Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

QUALITY OF RECORD KEEPING IN THE INTRAPARTUM PERIOD AT THE PROVINCIAL GENERAL HOSPITAL, KAKAMEGA, KENYA

E.B. WAMWANA, P.M. NDAVI, P.B. GICHANGI, J.G KARANJA, E.G MUIA, G.W. JALDESA

Abstract


ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the quality of recording critical events in the intrapartum period in Kakamega
Provincial General Hospital (PGHK).
Design: Retrospective comparative study.
Setting: Provincial General Hospital, Kakamega, the referral hospital for Western Province,
Kenya.
Participants: Two hundred women admitted at the labour ward during the six-month period
between 1st September 2000 and 28th February 2001 were compared to two hundred women admitted
between 1st July 2001 and 31st December 2001.
Intervention: The Safe Motherhood Demonstration Project (SMDP) was introduced in four
districts of Western Province, Kenya, in which PGHK is located. It included on job training in
Safe Motherhood which emphasised, among others, collection and utilisation of maternal health
care services data.
Main outcome measures: Comprehensiveness of recording of biodata, history taking and examination
findings were assessed for women in labour before and during the implementation of the SMDP.
The proportion of cases in labour managed by use of partograph and its appropriate use were also
determined.
Results: Retrieval rate of patients’ notes was 86.9% and 89.6% before and during SMDP respectively.
Information on sociodemographic characteristics, history taking, general and obstetric examination
had a near universal recording in both groups but data on alcohol consumption, smoking, menarche,
previous pregnancies and contraceptive use was poorly recorded. There was a significant improvement
in recording of diagnosis and plan of management during the SMDP (p=0.037). The partograph was
used in only 11% of patients before SMDP as compared to 85% during SMDP (p=0.000). Record on
foetal condition and progress of labour were significantly improved during the SMDP (p=0.000).
Records on summary of labour likewise significantly improved during the SMDP (p=0.02).
Conclusion: The quality of record keeping in the intrapartum period at the PGHK greatly improved
during the implementation of the SMDP. It would be worthwhile to assess the sustainability of
quality of intrapartum records and care a year or so after the SMDP ended.

Full Text: PDF

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


The East African Medical Journal is published monthly by Kenya Medical Association.

For more information, contact The Editor-in-Chief email: eamj@wananchi.com Tel 254-020-3864513, Fax:254-020-3864514