The value of the Partogramme in the management of labor.

The Partogramme was evaluated at the University Center for Health Science or Centre Universitaire des Sciences de la Santé (CUSS) in Yaounde, Cameroon, Africa. A retrospective study of 686 patients and a prospective study of 1045 patients were conducted. With the institution of this program, the perinatal mortality decreased by 10 deaths/1000 births. The use of the "alert" and "action" lines offered accurate and reliable guidelines for early detection of abnormal labor. Two-thirds of the morbidity and mortality and 72% of deliveries with medical or surgical interference occurred in the clinical group where the labor curve crossed the action line. Regional values for functional divisions of labor are provided. The advantages of the Partogramme are discussed.