INTRODUCTION OF A SIMPLIFIED ROUND PARTOGRAM IN RURAL MATERNITY UNITS- SENO PROVINCE, BURKINA-FASO, WEST-AFRICA

After a 3-day seminar on the utilization of a rectangular World Health Organization (WHO) version of the partogram and the round partogram, both versions were used under supervision in the maternity rooms of th e Seno province, Burkina Faso, West-Africa, for 3 months. After this p eriod a semi-standardized questionnaire was distributed among the part ogram users. Using the round partogram with a plastic dial (dilatation indicator for the assessment of labour-DIAL), the two most common err ors in the utilization of the rectangular partogram, incorrect recordi ng at the initial examination and at the transition from latent to act ive phase, were largely avoided. Although the partogram was used in on ly 46.6% of all deliveries at the health unit level, 86% of the matern ity staff using the partograms preferred the round partogram because o f its time-saving and user-friendly qualities. Eighty-six per cent of its users felt that by starting the alert- and action-lines at a point later than that in the WHO partogram they would be able to avoid tran sferring patients unnecessarily. The wide acceptance of the simpliged round partogram among the peripheral health units surveyed shows that the partogram would be an attractive tool for its users when it is mad e easy to use and a useful indicator for determining whether a patient transfer is necessary.