RESUMO
A clinical trial involving 75 patients was conducted to assess the efficacy of intravenous oxytocin "control group" and Foley's catheter 'study group' in ripening the unfavourable cervix prior to inducation of labour. The induction to delivery interval was shorter in the Foley's catheter group than that in the control group induced by oxytocin. There was a remarkable reduction in the caesarean section rate from 23.5% in the control group to 7.6% in the study group in primiparae, and from 16.6% in the control group to 4.7% in the study group in multiparae. The failure rate in the study group was 2.9% and with the control group was 7.3%. Side effects and complications associated with Foley's catheter were rare. Foley's catheter was found to be easy to use, cheap and readily available