J&K mandates ‘partogram’ use in labour rooms to lower maternal mortality

Srinagar, Feb 19: The Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department has made use of partograph/partogram, an effective tool in management of labour that prevents prolonged labour, mandatory in hospitals across J&K to reduce maternal mortality.
The Government is committed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of less than 70 maternal deaths per lakh live births.
Officials of the health department said they have observed that prolonged labour is one of the most frequent causes of maternal mortality in the hospitals which is a major concern.
On the other hand, the Cesarean section deliveries have increased significantly in UT of Jammu & Kashmir and stands at 41.7 percent as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) survey report against the desired Caesarean section rate of below 15 percent.
Officials said a partogram is an effective tool in management of labour which prevents prolonged labour. It reduces risk of postpartum hemorrhage and obviates chances of obstructed labour, uterine rupture and prenatal fetal asphyxia cases leading to an overall reduction in maternal morbidity and mortality.
The health department has issued an order mentioning that it has observed that obstetric care providers in health facilities of J&K are not routinely using partograph, which is a simple and low-cost intervention of reducing maternal complications and morbidity.
The order said that LaQshya guidelines also recommend the use of Partograph as mandatory in at least 90 percent of the deliveries for achieving the desired certification.
LaQshya is a quality improvement initiative which aims to ensure quality of care during intrapartum and immediate post-partum period in Labour Room and Maternity OT.
“To help reduce maternal morbidity and mortality and also reduce the Cesarean Section rate, it is, hereby, enjoined upon all the stakeholders across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir to generate/record Partograph using real-time information in all the delivery cases admitted in labour rooms across the UT,” the H&ME order said.
Further, all the Heads of the Departments, Medical Superintendents, Chief Medical Officers, Block Medical Officers etc. have been directed to regularly monitor the use of Partograph during their monitoring visits.
They have been directed to maintain the compliance reports which shall be submitted by the concerned HoD’s/MS’s/CMO’s/by the third of every month for the preceding month.
Managing Director, J&KMSCL has been directed to ensure that all government hospitals undertaking deliveries have adequate numbers of Cardiotocography (CTG) machines and partography paper.
As per the order, the partography paper shall be procured in a phased manner after fulfilling all the codal formalities in letter and spirit for the interest of better maternal care.