Out of 114 skilled health personnel invited to participate, 110 across 23 countries completed the survey. Table 1 reports the characteristics of participants. Skilled health personnel represented professionals of a range of ages, professional background, and world regions: Africa (n = 53), Asia (n = 22), Latin America (n = 21) and Europe (n = 14). Female participants doubled the number of male participants. The majority had worked in labour wards and had used a partograph in the previous 5 years. There was a relatively larger number of African health care providers in the sample, as well as a larger number of obstetricians among all labour and birth attendants.
Table 1
Participants’ characteristics
Variable
|
N
|
%
|
110
|
100
|
Region
|
|
|
Africa
|
53
|
48
|
Asia
|
22
|
20
|
Latin America
|
21
|
19
|
Europe
|
14
|
13
|
Gender
|
|
|
Female
|
75
|
71
|
Male
|
30
|
29
|
Age
|
|
|
<30
|
12
|
12
|
30-44
|
50
|
48
|
45-60
|
38
|
37
|
>60
|
4
|
4
|
Profession
|
|
|
Obstetrician
|
62
|
59
|
Midwife/Nurse-midwife
|
34
|
32
|
OBGYN Resident
|
4
|
4
|
General Practitioner
|
3
|
3
|
Other
|
2
|
2
|
Time since qualification (years)
|
|
|
<5
|
17
|
17
|
5-20
|
61
|
59
|
>20
|
25
|
24
|
Last time worked in labour ward (years)
|
|
|
<5
|
83
|
80
|
5-20
|
16
|
15
|
>20
|
5
|
5
|
Last time used a partograph (years)
|
|
|
<5
|
89
|
86
|
5-20
|
13
|
13
|
>20
|
1
|
1
|
Table 2 shows the median rating, the appropriateness classification, and the appropriateness of the frequency of recording of each variable. This table also describes median ratings and appropriateness classifications on reference values proposed by the LCG for variables related to clinical parameters. Open-ended questions for each LCG section were optional and were only responded by a proportion of the sample (between 16% − 40% depending on the section). Findings from open-ended questions are summarized in Supplementary Table 1.
Table 2
Assessment of LCG components
|
Ratings on variables
|
Ratings on reference values
|
Variables (reference value)
|
Relevance
|
Clarity
|
Frequency of recording
|
Clarity
|
Median rating
|
Appropriateness
classification
|
Median
rating
|
Appropriateness
classification
|
Strongly agree or agree n (%)
|
Median
rating
|
Appropriateness
classification
|
Section 1 – Identification
|
|
|
Parity
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Labour Onset
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Active Labour Diagnosis
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Ruptured Membranes
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Risk factor
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Section 2 – Supportive Care
|
|
|
Companion
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
90 (84)
|
N/A
|
Coping
|
8
|
Uncertain
|
7
|
Uncertain
|
75 (70)
|
N/A
|
Pain relief
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
95 (89)
|
N/A
|
Oral fluid
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
89 (83)
|
N/A
|
Posture
|
8
|
Appropriate
|
8
|
Appropriate
|
80 (75)
|
N/A
|
Section 3 - Care of the baby
|
|
|
Baseline FHR (< 110, ≥ 160)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
96 (90)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
FHR deceleration (L)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
99 (93)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Amniotic fluid (M +++)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
96 (90)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Fetal position (OP, O)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
83 (78)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Caput (+++)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
80 (75)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Moulding (+++)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
73 (69)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Section 4 - Care of the mother
|
|
|
Pulse (< 60,≥120)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
91 (86)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Systolic BP (< 80,≥140)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
86 (81)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Diastolic BP (≥ 90)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
87 (82)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Temperature ºC (< 35,≥37.5)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
76 (72)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Urine (P++,A++)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
63 (59)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Section 5 - Labour progress
|
|
|
Contractions per 10 min (≤ 2, > 5)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
97 (92)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Duration of contractions (< 20, > 60)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
95 (90)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
Cervix recorded as 5-10cm (≥ 2 h to ≥ 6 h)
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
81 (82)
|
9
|
Uncertain
|
Descendent
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
89 (85)
|
|
|
Section 6: Medication
|
|
|
Oxytocin
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
93 (89)
|
N/A
|
Medicine
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
92 (88)
|
N/A
|
IV fluid
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
92 (88)
|
N/A
|
Section 7 - Shared decision-making
|
|
|
Assessment
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
90 (86)
|
N/A
|
Plan
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
91 (87)
|
N/A
|
Section 8: Birth Outcomes
|
|
|
Mode of birth
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Apgar score at 5 minutes
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Blood loss
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Neonatal status
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Birthweight
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
9
|
Appropriate
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
For Sect. 1 (Identification), all variables received a median score of 9 with appropriate classification of rating for clarity and relevance. Overall, participants perceived all the variables in this section to be clear and relevant, and there was agreement that the open text format of recording “Parity”, “Labour onset” and “Risk factor” was appropriate. However, 55% of the participants agreed that one or more variables (e.g. date and time of admission) should be added to this section to make it complete. Regarding open-ended questions, participants required clearer definitions of “labour onset” (also categories – such as “induced” or “spontaneous”) and “risk factors”. The potential difficulties in registering the start of active phase if the patient was admitted late in labour were also reported. It was suggested to include maternal and fetal clinical variables and administrative information for patients´ follow-up.
For Sect. 2 (Supportive care), the majority of variables had high median ratings for clarity and relevance (i.e. 8–9) and were considered appropriate with the exception of the variable “Coping”. “Coping” had a median value of 7 without agreement for clarity. Assessment of relevance showed that participants considered each variable appropriate, but consensus on the relevance of including the whole section (Supportive Care) in the LCG and the variable “coping” was not reached. Participants agreed with the frequency of recording this section’s variables, except for “coping” and “posture”, where 30% and 25% of participants disagreed with the proposed frequency of recording, respectively. Most of participants were in favour of less frequent recording. From the open-ended question, participants reported lack of clarity or problematic terms, such as “companionship”. Lack of clarity on how to record pain relief was described (type of analgesia, epidural, pharmacological or not pharmacological), and some participants preferred to record "effective pain relief ". For the variable “posture”, participants suggested new abbreviations for categories, “walking” for example, and highlighted that “SP” (for supine position) should be included as a reference.
Participants agreed with the clarity, relevance, completeness, and appropriateness of Sect. 3 (Care of the baby), as all variables received high median values with agreement. With respect to the appropriateness of the frequency of recording variables, a high proportion of agreement was observed for “baseline fetal heart rate” (FHR), “FHR decelerations” and “amniotic fluids”. Lower level of agreement was observed for “fetal position”, “caput” and “moulding”, with the majority of participants favouring less frequency of recording. Participants also agreed that reference values were clear. Approximately 22% of participants reported that they would prefer to record “fetal position”, “caput” and “moulding” less frequently, given that these variable require vaginal examinations. In the open-ended question, participants made suggestions to improve the recording of some variables such as FHR deceleration, caput succedaneum and moulding, and the frequency for recording.
Section 4 (Care of the mother) obtained very high rating for relevance, clarity and clarity of reference values, and were considered appropriate. A lower proportion of agreement was found for the frequency of recording of “urine” as 41% of the participants were in favour of recording it less frequently. In open-ended questions, respondents made suggestions for variables such as pulse, blood pressure and urine.
Sections 5 (Labour progress), 6 (Medication), 7 (Shared decision-making) and 8 (Birth outcomes) obtained high ratings on all assessed criteria. “Cervix” from Sect. 5 was the only variable of the section that obtained a lower proportion of high ratings on clarity (71%) and on the clarity of its reference value (67%) – this last assessment showed dissent among participants. The Sect. 7 variable “assessment” also received a slightly lower proportion of high ratings for clarity. The Sect. 8 variable “neonatal status” obtained a lower level of agreement on the proposed format for recording.
Within open-ended questions in Sect. 6, respondents suggested a better explanation of how to record medications, type of intravenous (IV) fluid being reported, and adding reference to oxytocin. Some respondents suggested including a variable to record “use of oxygen”. In Sect. 7 there were some difficulties in understanding the difference between “Assessment” and “Plan”. While in Sect. 8, some providers suggested to include variables such as Apgar at 1, 5 and 10 minutes, newborn sex, any abnormality, and interventions at third stage of labour.
Regarding additional variables required per section, the completeness was lower in Sect. 1 and 8, where 55% and 42% of participants respectively, considered that additional variables needed to be added (results shown in Table 3).
Table 3
Completeness of LCG sections
|
Additional variables are required
|
Sections
|
N
|
%
|
|
110
|
100
|
Section 1- Identification
|
60
|
55
|
Section 2 – Supportive Care
|
21
|
20
|
Section 3 - Care of the baby
|
21
|
20
|
Section 4 - Care of the mother
|
10
|
10
|
Section 5 - Labour progress
|
14
|
13
|
Section 6 - Medication
|
11
|
11
|
Section 7 - Shared decision-making
|
8
|
8
|
Section 8 - Birth Outcomes
|
44
|
42
|
Finally, the general assessment of the LCG received high levels of agreement regarding its potential to lead to a positive impact on quality of care: would facilitate decision-making (96%), and implementation of respectful care (94%), sections organization (93%), and general design – clear instructions (80%), clear abbreviations (84%). However, 28% of participants reported that it would not be easy to complete (Table 4).
Table 4
General assessment of the new WHO Partograph
To what extent do you agree with the following statements about the new partograph?
|
Agree or strongly agree
|
N
|
%
|
110
|
100
|
It will facilitate clinical decision-making
|
100
|
96
|
The reference thresholds will trigger further assessment and necessary action
|
98
|
93
|
It will facilitate implementation of respectful maternity care policy
|
99
|
94
|
Contains all relevant variables
|
90
|
85
|
It will be easy to complete
|
76
|
72
|
Instructions are clear
|
84
|
80
|
Abbreviations are clear
|
89
|
84
|
The sections are logically organized
|
98
|
93
|
24-hour time format is very appropriate
|
94
|
89
|
Enables provider identification
|
85
|
81
|