Professional Application of Partograph in Monitoring Labour Progress at General Hospitals in Sokoto State

The partograph is a WHO-recommended clinical tool for monitoring labour progress and guiding obstetric decision-making, yet its professional adoption and quality of use in Sokoto State general hospitals remains undocumented and likely suboptimal. This study evaluates the availability, knowledge, and professional application of the partograph in monitoring labour progress at 10 general hospitals in Sokoto State, North West Nigeria. A mixed-methods design combined facility assessments, structured observation of 40 labour management episodes, and knowledge assessments administered to 35 midwives and doctors providing intrapartum care. Partograph availability was confirmed in 80 percent of facilities, but correct and complete partograph documentation was observed in only 31 percent of monitored labours. Knowledge of alert and action line interpretation was adequate in 52 percent of assessed providers. Partograph use was significantly more common in senior midwives than in junior staff and medical officers. The study identifies implementation rather than supply as the dominant partograph challenge in Sokoto State hospitals, reflecting inadequate pre-service training and insufficient in-service refresher engagement. Professional recommendations include structured partograph in-service training for all intrapartum care providers, mentorship by senior midwives, inclusion of partograph competency assessment in annual performance reviews, and state-wide audit of partograph documentation quality. Keywords: partograph, labour monitoring, Sokoto State, intrapartum care, midwifery practice