Equipment as a potential impediment to optimal intrapartum monitoring and delivery of pregnant women in public hospitals of Sekhukhune District, Limpopo, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Medical equipment is an important tool in a Labour Unit to assess, monitor, diagnose and prevention of complications during labour. The purpose of the study was to investigate how equipment is a potential impediment to optimal intrapartum monitoring and delivery of pregnant women. Research method: Across-sectional descriptive design of quantitative research approach was used to investigate how equipment impede monitoring and delivery of pregnant women. A total of 59 midwives were recruited for participation in the study. Data collected using an electronic structured questionnaires were analyzed with descriptive statistics on a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.0. Results: Midwives described a lack of equipment, and non-functionality of some equipment as barriers for intrapartum monitoring and delivery of pregnant women. Midwives expressed that improving the equipment is significant for optimum labor practice. However, midwives noticed that the use of equipment for infection control and prevention during intrapartum was of optimum practice. Conclusion: The availability of good working equipment in the labor unit is needed to enhance optimal intrapartum monitoring and delivery of pregnant women. Therefore, it is recommended that quality and quantity of equipment in labour unit need to be monitored with daily checklist, improved effectively by fixing or replacing to minimise barriers to optimal care of pregnant women during labour.