Background. Globally, there was an estimated of 358,000 maternal deaths. Of which developing rncountries accounted for 99 % (355,000). Nearly three fifths of the maternal deaths (204,000) rnoccurred in sub-Saharan Africa region alone. More than 70% of all maternal deaths are due to rnmajor complications of hemorrhage, infection, unsafe abortion, hypertensive disorders of rnpregnancy, and obstructed labor. A number of cases of obstructed labour do happen in health rnfacilities, thus reflecting poor quality of intrapartum care. Use of the partograph is well known rnbest practice for quality monitoring of labour and subsequent prevention of obstructed and rnprolonged labour. rnObjective: To assess knowledge and utilization of partograph among Obstetric care givers in rnpublic health institutions of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from September 2011 to May 2012. rnMethods: A cross sectional quantitative study, supplemented by record reviews of 420 rnpartographs, assessed knowledge and utilization of partograph in public health institutions of rnAddis Ababa, Ethiopia using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and rnobservational checklists. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Logistic rnregression was used to control confounding variables rnResults: Knowledge about the partograph was fair: 189 (96.6%) of all the respondents correctly rnmentioned at least one component of the partograph, 104 (53.3%) correctly explained the rnfunction of alert line and 161(82.6%) correctly explained the function of action line. The study rnhas shown that 112 (57.3%) of the obstetric care givers at public health institutions reportedly rnused partograph to monitor mother in labour. But partograph record reviews showed only 32.9%, rn30.70% and 20.70% of the fetal heart rate, cervical dilation and uterine contraction were rnrecorded according to the standard for monitoring of these three labour parameters. There was rnstatistically significant association between utilization of the partograph and working in the rnhealth center level of care compared with Hospital level of care [67.9% vs 34.4% Adjusted rnOR=21.2 (6.6, 68.6)]. rnConclusions and recommendations; A significant percentage of obstetric care givers had fair rnknowledge of partograph and why it is necessary to use it in the management of labour. In spite of rnfair knowledge of the partograph by obstetric care givers in this study, a large number of the rnpartograph cards reviewed were not recorded or poorly filled. Training of obstetric care givers on rnuse of the partograph with periodic workshops and seminars and mandatory health facility policy rnare recommended and vital to safety of women in labour in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.