Yigzaw T, et al. – The quality of midwifery care amid labor, delivery and immediate postpartum period are evaluated in this study. Although these outcomes show most midwives are competent in giving routine and emergency intrapartum care, the major gaps in the enabling environment and the major proportion of midwives with unsatisfactory performance propose that the conditions for providing quality intrapartum care are not optimal.

Methods

• For this research, they designed a cross–sectional study.
• This study was conducted in government health facilities of the Amhara National Regional State of Ethiopia from January 25 to February 14, 2015.
• In this study, they were using multiple data collection methods and a 2–stage cluster sampling technique.
• Direct observation of performance was utilized to ascertain competence of midwives in providing care amid labor, delivery, and the first 6 h after childbirth.
• Inventory of drugs, medical equipment, supplies, and infrastructure was conducted to identify the availability of resources in health facilities.
• Structured interview was carried out to evaluate the availability of resources and performance improvement opportunities.
• Information examination involved calculating percentages, means, and chi–square tests.

Results

• In the study, a sum of 150 midwives and 56 health facilities were included.
• The performance evaluation demonstrated 16.5% of midwives were incompetent, 72.4% were competent, and 11.1% were outstanding in providing routine intrapartum care.
• 45 midwives were seen while managing 54 obstetric and newborn complications and 41 (91%) of them were rated competent.
• Inventory of resources found that the proportion of facilities with more than 75% of the items in each category was 32.6% for drugs, 73.1% for equipment, 65.4% for supplies, 47.9% for infection prevention materials, and 43.6% for records and forms.
• Opportunities for performance improvement were inadequate, with 31.3% reporting emergency obstetric and newborn care training, and 44.7% quarterly or more frequent supportive supervision.
• Health centers fared worse in provider competence, physical resources, and quality improvement practices except for supportive supervision visits and in–service training.