Perinatal mortality has been associated with poor maternal health during pregnancy and intrapartum periods. This study was conducted to determine the effects of obstetrics training programmes and the utilization of maternal unit protocols in the management of obstetric complications in reducing neonatal mortality rate in selected public hospitals in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa. A quantitative, descriptive design was used and a non-probability purposive sampling method was used to select midwives with a minimum of two (2) years of working experience in maternity wards of selected public hospitals. A total of 105 completed questionnaires were analysed using SPSS version 23. Most of the respondents were within the age group of 40-59 years (74.3%) and with professional experience of more than 10 years (76.8%). More than half (63.8%) had qualified as midwives at a diploma level. Only 44.8% indicated that the protocols were always utilised, even though the majority (70.5%) believed that the protocols are helpful in managing obstetrics complications. The obstetric skills are helpful in reducing neonatal mortality, however, utilisation of the protocols is not encouraging in the studied health facilities. We recommend that efforts should be geared towards the enforcement of the protocol's use, and all midwives should be encouraged to undergo the trainings.
Keywords: antenatal care; intrapartum care; maternity unit protocol; obstetric skills; perinatal mortality.