Assessment of Active Management of Third Stage of Labour in the Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage at Kiryandongo General Hospital

ABSTRACT Introduction: Postpartum hemorrhage is the most common leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide and most of the death is in developing countries including Ethiopia. Globally, it is responsible for more than 25% of all maternal death and this proportion is higher in sub-Saharan African countries like Uganda (WHO, 2007). Postpartum hemorrhage can be minimized and prevented by application of a protocol known as active management of third stage of labor. Proportion of deliveries assisted by a skilled birth attendant and antenatal care coverage have been used as a key proxy indicator for monitoring global progress towards decreasing maternal mortality. However, these two indicators may not reflect the content or quality of the care provider. The it was to assess the Active management of third stage of labour in the prevention of PPH at Kiryandongo hospital. Objective; The objective of this study was to assess Knowledge and practice of obstetric care providers toward active management of third stage of labour (AMTSL) as well as the barriers to practice of AMSTL at Kiryandongo Hospital Methodology; the discriptive cross sectional study design was implemented. Obstetric care provider in the maternity ward were included to the study with 46 respondents from the maternity ward. Interviewer-administered structure questionnaire and observedby using observational check list which was employed. Data was entered using SPSS version 21.0 for statistical analyses. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to present data. Results: Adequate knowledge on AMTSL was achieved by 48% of obstetrics care providers while good practice on AMTSL was achieved by 35% of them. Pre or in service training, access to reading materials and knowledge levels of obstetrics care providers were among factors that affects their practice on AMTSL. Conclusions and recommendations: The overall knowledge and practice of obstetric care providers on AMTSL in the present study were not satisfactory. In views of the findings of this study, it implies that the practice of obstetric care providers was much lower than their knowledge of AMTSL. The investigator calls for immediate interventions by the MoH, Hospital Management, Nurse managers and Obstetric care provider themselves. Key Word; Knowledge, practice, Active management of third stage of labour, postpartum Hemorrhage.