ABSTRACT
Background: Finding a suitable procedure in cases requiring termination of pregnancy without having a ready cervix to induction of labor, is a considerable problem in midwifery. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Foley catheter placement with oxytocin to expedite the process of delivery. Methods: This is an interventional study. In this study, patient information including age, gestational age, residence place, education, induction time, induction complications, cesarean delivery after induction were entered in a checklist. Collected data analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical methods in SPSS.16. Results: In this study 100 pregnant women were enrolled in two equal size groups, case (receiving a Foley catheter and oxytocin) and control (receiving oxytocin), each with 50 patient. The mean age of cases was 24.7±3.4 years and controls were 23.9±2.3 years and the most prevalent age group in both was 20-30. In cases 14 % and in controls 12 % were with underlying disease and 14% of women in case group and 24% of women in control group had narrowing of vaginal canal. The most common reason for starting induction in cases was lack of progress in labor and in controls dilation of delivery. The mean gestational age in cases was 39.9±1.9 and in control 39.2±1.8 weeks. In relation to dilatation progress, results showed that in cases individuals reached to full dilatation early and this difference was, in cases 14 % and in controls 22% of deliveries are ended to caesarean. 14% of deliveries in cases and 22% in controls are ended to Caesarean section. There was no significant difference between two groups in birth time Apgar score and 5 minutes after birth time. Conclusions: Results showed that, Foley catheter could significantly reduce induction time significantly and resulted to faster labor but did not reduce the rate of caesarean.