Nurse's Knowledge Regarding Active Management of The Third Stage of Labor to Control Postpartum Hemorrhage

Abstract

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity globally. The third stage of labor begins after the baby is born and ends with the delivery of the placenta. During this stage, the uterus needs to contract effectively to prevent excessive bleeding. Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor was introduced as a strategy to reduce the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. The study aimed to investigate nurses' knowledge of active management of the third stage of labor to control postpartum hemorrhage and investigate associated factors.

Results: The study examined participant characteristics, revealing an average age of 35.93 (SD=8.52). Around 65.0% of nurses in the study had graduated from preparatory nursing. Most nurses (56.7%) had 5-10 years of hospital experience. A majority (65.0%) worked in postpartum areas. Over half (58.3%) had 4-6 years of experience without training. The study evaluated nurses' knowledge of active management of the third stage of labor, with responses on a scale ranging from 37-64. The overall expertise indicates that 75.0% of nurses needed a better understanding. The results highlighted that factors like nurses' education level (p= .024) and training courses (p= .041) predicted their knowledge of active management of the third stage of labor.

Conclusions: The study found that nurses' knowledge of active management of the third stage of labor varied, overall indicating a poor understanding of nurses. The results highlighted significant predictors of this knowledge, including education level and participation in training courses. To enhance nurses' proficiency in active management of the third stage, it is recommended to focus on targeted educational programs and regular training opportunities.