Browsing by Author "Gitonga, L.K."

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    Assessment of the Midwives Knowledge on Utilization of Partograph in Management of Labour in Public Health Facilities in Tharaka Nithi County
    (International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 2021-12) Mwari, P.S.; Gitonga, L.K.; Mukhwana, E.S.
    The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended Partograph as a labor management tool due to its impact in reducing obstetric labor complications and maternal deaths over the years. This labor management tool is inexpensive and appropriate for use in low-resource settings, particularly in developing countries. Despite the fact that many African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria, have adopted the Partograph in labor management, there is little information on midwives' knowledge on the use of the tool in labor management. Understanding of how to use a Partograph is essential for reducing complications and maternal deaths. The purpose of this study was to determine midwives' knowledge on using the Partograph in labor management. The study adopted a cross sectional survey design. 45 midwives were randomly selected from 16 public health facilities in Tharaka Nithi County. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Focused Group Discussions were also conducted with 77 postnatal mothers who gave birth in the 16 health facilities. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, and percentages) and Chi-Square tests. Thematic analysis was used to examine qualitative data. Results showed that 74% of midwives had used Partograph in labor monitoring, while 26% had never used the tool. 60% of the midwives had received Partograph training. Despite not having been trained, some midwives were using the Partograph. Findings revealed inconsistencies in the use of Partograph in labor management. A large proportion of midwives deviated from the WHO's recommended use of Partograph in the first stage of labor. The study recommended that the Tharaka Nithi County government, through the Ministry of Health, invest in Partograph utilization in-service training programs to provide nurses and midwives working in the maternity wing the necessary knowledge and skills for proper Partograph utilization. There is also a need for policy changes in institutions to ensure that nurses use of the Partograph as a strategy for reducing maternal mortality rates, improving motherhood, and labor management in the County
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    Evaluation of midwives’ and nurses’ continuing professional development in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in embu county, Kenya.
    (Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 4:249-259, 2014) Gitonga, L.K.; Muriuki, N.S.
    Continuing professional development (CPD) is one of the principal means by which health professionals (Nurses and midwives) maintain, improve, and broaden the knowledge and skills required for optimal patient care and safety, to be more specific reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. However, the lack of a widely accepted instrument to assess the impact of CPD activities on clinical practice thwarts researchers’ assessment of the effectiveness of CPD activities. The objective of the study is to develop a theory and practice-based, valid, reliable nation-al instrument to assess the impact of accredited CPD activities on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in Kenya using an integrated model for the study of healthcare professionals’ behavior through environmental scanning of the factors that promote good performance. The researcher will analyze the instruments identified in a systematic review of factors motivating and demotivating nurses and midwives’ behaviours using criteria that reflect the literature on measurement development of CPD leaders and providers’ priorities. The outcome of this phase will be an inventory of instruments using a competence-based model. Working from this inventory, the most relevant items for assessing the concepts listed will be selected. Then, the researcher will verify whether these items are acceptable or need modification, what aspects need revision, and whether important items are missing and should be added. The outcome of this phase will be a new national instrument integrating the most relevant tools to fit our integrated model of healthcare professionals’ behavior. Two data collections are planned: 1) pretesting of the new instrument, to assess its reliability and validity and 2) a study using the instrument before and after CPD activities with randomly selected groups, one acting as control group to assess measurement effect. The researcher will conduct individual interviews and focus groups with CPD providers and leaders to identify anticipated barriers and enablers for implementing the new instrument in CPD practice. Drawing on the results from the previous phases, we will use consensus-building methods with the decision makers to develop a plan to implement the new instrument.