Methods of Induction of Labour at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri: A 4-Year Review

ABSTRACT

Background: Induction of labour is an important intervention in obstetrics. Misoprostol is increasingly being used for induction of labour in many obstetric units and it may replace the traditional Foleys catheter/oxytocin protocol. Method: This was a retrospective study of the 3 methods of induction of labour used at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). A total of 468 women had induction of labour during the study period. Two hundred and twenty eight of them had induction with 50?g of misoprostol; 57 women had 100?g of misoprostol while 183 women had extra-amniotic Foleys catheter with oxytocin infusion. Result: Induction of labour constituted 6.6(468/7086) of all deliveries during the study period. The commonest indication for induction of labour was prolonged pregnancy in 46.8; followed by pregnancy induced hypertension in 33.5. There was no difference in the achievement of vaginal delivery between the 3 methods of induction of labour (x2=1.13; p=0.57). The mean induction delivery time was shortest for those induced with 100?g of misoprostol (6.38+2.25 hours); followed by 8.16+3.58 hours in those induced with 50ug of misoprostol and 9.73+4.32.43 hours in those induced with Foleys catheter/oxytocin (p