Background
A partograph is a graphic record showing the progress of labour, which helps doctors and midwives identify and manage possible complications at an early stage. Partographs are used at all deliveries at 1^st Perinatal Centre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but they are only filled out by the obstetrician, not the midwife. As maternal and newborn mortality rates are still high, strengthening the role of the midwife could be a way of improving the quality of care for women giving birth.

About the project
This project was created to improve the care for women giving birth by introducing the partograph as a tool for the midwives at 1^st Perinatal Centre in Tashkent. The project team trained 20 midwives from the obstetric ward on partograph use through lectures, demonstrations and practical exercises.

Results
Before the implementation of this project, the partograph was only filled out by obstetricians at the 1^st Perinatal Centre. By the end of the project, midwives had the skills to use the partographs independently and 69,9% of all partographs were filled out by them. This has helped more staff members identify and manage labour complications at an early stage and increased the sustainability of partograph use at the centre.

Year: 2008