Assessment of licensed indigenous midwives’ knowledge concerning prevention and management of postpartum hemorrhage in Baghdad city

Abstract

Objective(s): The aim of this study is to assess licensed indigenous midwives’ knowledge concerning prevention and
management of postpartum hemorrhage in Baghdad City.
Methodology: A descriptive analytic study is conducted on a purposive "non-probability" sample of one hundred
licensed indigenous midwives who were selected what represents 26% of the target population, during period from
March, 5
th to May, 10th,
2008. The study is conducted at the two settings of Ministry of Health (Baghdad health
directorate in Al-Karhk and Al-Risafa) sector during their annual renewed license for midwifery practice. The
questionnaire form is consisted of three parts which included demographic data, knowledge concerning prevention
and management of primary postpartum hemorrhage. Content validity and reliability of the questionnaire is
determined through a pilot study, descriptive and inferential statistical are used to analyze the data.
Results: The study results showed that the highest percentage (40%) of study sample is of the age group (50-59 years)
and more than half of the study sample is primary school graduate and less. More than the half of the study sample is
assigned to primary postpartum hemorrhage during their practices in midwifery. There were statistically significant
relationships between knowledge of licensed Indigenous Midwives regarding prevention and management of primary
postpartum hemorrhage and their ages and level of education.
Recommendations: The study recommends that licensed indigenous midwife should be provided with information on
safe delivery practices and the importance of healthy referral system. Committing licensed indigenous midwife to
apply Ministry of Health instructions, do not allowing delivering risky pregnant cases. Establish midwifery department
for medical technical institutes and higher diploma degree in midwifery for college nurse graduates