Factors Influencing the Practice of Skilled Birth Providers in Prevention of Postpartum Haemorrhage in Primary Health Facilities in Osogbo, Osun State

Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the most common type of obstetric hemorrhage and is the world’s leading cause of maternal mortality. The prevention of postpartum haemorrhage is a vital step towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors that influence the practice of PPH prevention in primary health facilities in Osogbo. A descriptive cross sectional method was used in this study. Total enumeration of 128 skilled birth providers working in primary health facilities in the two local governments in Osogbo was used. Questionnaire was used as main instrument for data collection. Questionnaire was validated by the experts in Tests & Measurement. Reliability index of 0.702 was recorded using Cronbach alpha. Data collected were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Finding revealed that majority of the respondents 99.2% had good practice of prevention of postpartum haemorrhage, 93.7% had high level of knowledge of prevention of postpartum haemorrhage. The study revealed that the available drugs for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in primary health centre are; misoprostol, ergometrine and oxytocin whereas the drugs are not free for patients. In conclusion, there is shortage of staff to cover all shifts and this really has influence on prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in primary health centres. Therefore, it was recommended among others that Government should employ more nursing staff in primary health centres to cover the three shifts as this will reduce the work load on the currents nursing staff for the effective practice of PPH prevention.

Keywords: Factors, Postpartum Haemorrhage, Practice, Prevention, Primary Health Care, Skilled Birth Providers,