Research Article

Efficient Perineal Management: Knowledge, Confidence and Competence of Midwives During Labour in Hospitals in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Midwives are health care practitioners who provide invaluable services to women during their reproductive years. One of the major problems they may encounter while taking deliveries is perineal trauma. A knowledgeable confident and competent midwife who can manage the entire labour process expertly is an assert to maternity services. The study aimed at assessing midwives’ knowledge, competence, and confidence for efficient perineal management during labour at selected hospitals in Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was used for the study and midwives working in government tertiary secondary hospitals in River State were recruited. Ninety registered midwives participated, twenty-seven from UPTH, eleven from RSUTH, and 52 from General Hospitals. The instruments adopted for the study were a semi – structured questionnaire and an observational checklist. Results: Majority 70 (77.8%) of the midwives had good knowledge of perineal management, with most of the respondents 75 (83.3%) reporting high confidence in identifying anatomical structures of the perineum; 82 (91.1%) expressed high confidence in identifying perineal trauma during childbirth and 79 (87.8%) reported high confidence in performing second-degree perineal repair and episiotomy. This study noticed no statistical difference in confidence among midwives working in general hospitals and those in tertiary hospitals (p = 0.239). Competence assessment showed that more than half 49 (54.4%) were competent in techniques for prevention of perineal tear during labour, and 47 (52.2%) were competent in repairing second degree perineal tear and episiotomy. There was a statistically significant difference in competence with secondary level (general) hospitals midwives having higher competence than tertiary hospitals midwives in the observational checklist competence score (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The study highlighted the need for knowledge, high level of confidence, and competence by midwives to be able to carry out perineal wound assessment and repair. This implies that the educational qualification of the midwives is crucial if they would be confident in their abilities to carry out perineal assessment and repair across healthcare facilities in Rivers State.

Author's Information:

Uzoma-Nwosi Esther Christiana (ORCID), African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB, Port Harcourt 5323, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Robinson-Bassey Grace, African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB, Port Harcourt 5323, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Oranu Emmanuel, African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB, Port Harcourt 5323, Rivers State, Nigeria. 
Ojule Inumanye, African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB, Port Harcourt 5323, Rivers State, Nigeria.

How to Cite: U.E. Christiana, R. Grace, O. Emmanuel, O. Inumanye. Efficient Perineal Management: Knowledge, Confidence and Competence of Midwives During Labour in Hospitals in Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine, 5(7): 18–37, 2025. https://doi.org/10.58614/jahsm573