KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF DOCTORS AND NURSING STAFF OF WHO INTRAPARTUM CARE GUIDELINES

This cross-sectional study, conducted over a year in a tertiary care center in Delhi, aimed to assess knowledge and adherence to WHO intrapartum care guidelines among 200 doctors and 200 nurses. The study utilized self-administered questionnaires and focused group discussions to identify knowledge gaps and application constraints. Results indicated that doctors exhibited better knowledge of the guidelines than nurses, with more experienced professionals scoring higher. Specifically, questions regarding the duration of the latent phase and cervical dilation posed difficulties, especially for nurses. Only 36% of doctors and 16% of nurses correctly answered knowledge-based questions. Furthermore, doctors demonstrated superior practical application of the guidelines, particularly in areas like fundal pressure and episiotomy in primigravida. The study highlighted a significant association between higher education, experience, and better outcome. The findings underscore the necessity for continuous training and practice to enhance adherence to WHO guidelines, ultimately aiming to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. Enhanced training and monitoring are recommended to bridge the identified gaps and ensure evidence-based intrapartum care practices are universally applied.