EVIDENCE BASED INTRAPARTUM CARE PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG OBSTETRIC CARE PROVIDERS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS OF GAMO AND GOFA ZONES SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, 202

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Evidence-Based Practice is an approach to a clinical practice whereby clinicians integrate current best evidence with their clinical expertise to make decisions for a specific client by considering his or her preferences and values. Applying evidence-based practice during care provision is essential because it improves the quality of care, reduces health care costs, and increases patient and family satisfaction, and contributes to professional development. Despite these benefits, Ethiopia does not have a well-described report on evidence based practice and only few studies were done so far and this study will be help fill this gap. OBJECTIVE: To assess evidence based intra-partum practice and its associated factors among obstetric care providers in government hospitals of Gamo and Gofa zones, southern Ethiopia, 2023. METHOD: Institution based cross-sectional study design was employed. Data was collected from all obstetric care providers of government hospitals in Gamo and Gofa zones from November 30, 2022 to January 30, 2023. Data was collected using a pretested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 27 and Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were done to identify factors associated with evidence-based intra-partum practice using odds ratio at 95% C.I and P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall magnitude of evidence based intra-partum practice was 51.9%. Obstetric care providers‟ good knowledge [AOR=2.30;95% CI(1.21,4.39)], good attitude [AOR=2.16;95% CI(1.18,3.97)], having on job training [AOR=3.67;95% CI(1.98,6.81)], and profession of care provider; that is being general practitioner[AOR=0.12;95%CI (0.04,0.35)] and IESO [AOR=0.28; 95% CI (0.96, 0.82)] were factors found to be associated with evidence based practice. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study implicated that half of obstetric care provider‟s practiced evidence based Intrapartum care. We suggest that responsible bodies provide updated standard Intrapartum care guideline, provide timely and continuous trainings for professionals that can result in improvement of practice of evidence based Intrapartum care