From the Guidelines
The World Health Organization (WHO) partogram is a vital clinical tool used to monitor and document the progress of labor, helping healthcare providers identify deviations from normal labor patterns and intervene appropriately to reduce maternal and neonatal complications. The partogram functions as a visual representation of labor progress, tracking cervical dilation, fetal descent, uterine contractions, maternal vital signs, fetal heart rate, and amniotic fluid status over time 1. This comprehensive monitoring tool features alert and action lines that signal when labor is progressing too slowly, with the alert line representing a cervical dilation rate of 1 cm per hour and the action line drawn 4 hours to the right of the alert line.
The key components of the WHO partogram include:
- Cervical dilation
- Fetal descent
- Uterine contractions
- Maternal vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature)
- Fetal heart rate
- Amniotic fluid characteristics These components help healthcare providers to identify potential complications early on, such as prolonged labor, fetal distress, and maternal complications, and intervene accordingly 1.
The WHO partogram is particularly useful in resource-limited settings, where it serves as a cost-effective method to improve birth outcomes. By enabling early recognition of deviations from normal labor patterns, the partogram helps reduce the risk of maternal and neonatal complications, ultimately improving morbidity, mortality, and quality of life outcomes. The use of the WHO partogram is a crucial aspect of labor management, and its implementation should be prioritized in all settings to ensure optimal care for mothers and newborns.
From the Research
Function of the World Health Organization (WHO) Partogram
The World Health Organization (WHO) partogram is a tool used to monitor the progress of labour and serves as a diagnostic tool for labour-related abnormalities such as prolonged labour, cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD), and obstructed labour 2. The partogram aids health caregivers with early diagnosis and facilitates clinical judgement and interventions to prevent complications of abnormal labour.
Key Features and Benefits
- The partogram is a graphic tool used to monitor labor progression 3.
- It is recommended by the WHO for monitoring labour wellbeing and progress 4.
- The partogram can be used to identify potential issues and solutions related to successful labour recording and management 4.
- It is a useful tool for graphically documenting the progress of labor, which could improve clinical decision-making 3.
Utilization and Effectiveness
- The partogram has not shown significant benefits in reducing cesarean sections, particularly in countries with low cesarean section rates 3.
- However, the modified WHO partogram, which eliminates the latent phase, appears to have advantages over the classic 1994 model, with significantly lower cesarean section rates 3.
- The partogram can be used as a guide when adopting interventions during labor, and its use can be associated with timely interventions 5.