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Knowledge and barriers on correct use of modified guidelines for active management of third stage of labour: a cross sectional survey of nurse-midwives at three referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania


Fatina B Ramadhani
Yilan Liu
Melania Menrad Lembuka

Abstract

Background: Despite the fact that it is possibly preventable, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the global most deadly form of obstetric bleeding, mainly sub-Saharan Africa with at least one-fourth of maternal deaths in East African regions. Active management of third stage of labour (AMTSL) is recommended to prevent PPH. However, AMTSL guidelines have been revised since 2006.


Objectives: To examine the current status of nurse-midwives’ knowledge on modified AMTSL guidelines and highlight barriers to AMTSL correct use.


Method: Descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted to 160 nurse-midwives at three referral hospitals in Dar es Sa- laam, Tanzania. One-way, interactive modes ANOVA and Chi square (χ2) test were run in SPSS 21 version to compare the association of independent and dependent variables.


Results: Virtually all nurse-midwives knew the first recommended uterotonic (99.4%) and delayed cord clamping (98.8%) protocols as modified. Knowledge was significantly contributed by multiple factors; p=0.001. Reported correct AMTSL use was 46.8% which was significantly affected by AMTSL training (χ2 = 6.732, p = 0.009) and prioritizing atteding an asphyx- iated baby (χ2 = 5.647, p = 0.017).


Conclusion: Regardless of high nurse-midwives’ AMTSL knowledge; it is imperative that responsible authorities plan ap- propriate strategies to solve reported barriers affecting correct AMTSL use.


Keywords: Nurse-midwives’ knowledge, maternal bleeding, maternal mortality, third stage of labour, AMTSL, atonic uterus


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eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905