ABSTRACT
Introduction: Induction of labour is the artificial initiation of labour before its spontaneous onset for the purpose of delivery of the foetoplacental unit. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the current practice of elective labour induction was associated with differences in mode of delivery, demand for pain relief and foetal outcomes when compared with labour of spontaneous onset. Methods And Materials: This cross-sectional study carried out on 100 pregnant women with singleton pregnancy between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation with cephalic presentation delivering in labour room. This study included two groups: Electively induced (50) and spontaneous group (50). Results: In electively induced group 44% had normal vaginal delivery and 6% had instrumental delivery. With spontaneous labour, 78% had normal vaginal delivery and 4% had instrumental delivery. Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) was 20% in electively induced group and 6% in the spontaneous group (p-0.038).Apgar scores, mean birth weights were comparable. Analgesia demand was 22% in the electively induced group when compared to 6% in the spontaneous group. Conclusion: The present study emphasizes that elective induction of labour in nulliparous women with a single cephalic presentation is associated with increased risk of caesarean section, which is predominantly related to an unfavorable cervix. Hence, elective induction is safe and efficacious. Caesarean delivery rate was more due to nulliparity or unfavorable cervix not due to elective induction itself.