ABSTRACT
Background: Prolonged labor is a significant contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization encourages using the partograph to keep track and solve this issue. The extent of partograph use in Ethiopia, however, is hardly understood. This study aimed to ascertain the level of partograph use and related variables among obstetric care providers in government hospitals in southern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional institutional study was conducted among obstetric care providers in government hospitals in southern Ethiopia, from March to December 2015. The data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire and format. To establish a statistical relationship, an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was utilized. Results: A total of 212 (55.1%) obstetric providers reported routine use of partograph to monitor labor. Midwives [AOR: 3.4, 95% CI: (1.2, 9.4)], clinical nurses [AOR: 3.0, 95% CI: (1.1, 7.6)], knowledge of partographs [AOR: 2.0, 95% CI: (1.2, 3.5)], positive attitudes toward partograph use [AOR: 3.7, 95% CI: (1.7, 7.7)], service of 2 - 5 years [AOR: 3.4, 95% CI: (2.8, 4.4)] and service of more than five years [AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: (2.0, 3.3)] were associated with partograph use. Conclusion: This study has shown that the use of partographs to monitor labor among obstetricians is consistent with other studies from developing countries. However, this does not mean that obstetric care does not need to be strengthened, as a significant proportion of obstetricians still do not use the partograph for labor monitoring. Therefore, it is recommended that midwives and nurses be given preference in the delivery of obstetric services, the knowledge and attitudes of providers be improved, and mechanisms be developed that can help keep senior care providers.