Successful IT Initiative to Reduce the Rate of Excessive Uterine Contractions During Labor

BackgroundThe practice of intrapartum use of oxytocin for induction and augmentation of labour is increasing worldwide with documented wide variations in clinical use, especially dose administrations. There is also evidence of intrapartum use by unauthorized cadre of staff.AimThis study assessed the patterns – frequency of intrapartum use of oxytocin, the doses and routes of administration for induction and augmentation of labour, and identified the predictors of oxytocin use for induction and augmentation of labour by healthcare providers in Nigeria.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted among healthcare providers – doctors, nurses/midwives and community health workers (CHWs) in public and private healthcare facilities across the country’s six geopolitical zones. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 6,299 eligible healthcare providers who use oxytocin for pregnant women during labour and delivery. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect relevant data and analysed using STATA 17 statistical software. Summary and inferential statistics were done and further analyses using multivariable regression models were performed to ascertain independent predictor variables of correct patterns of intrapartum oxytocin usage. The p-value was set at < 0.05.ResultsOf the 6299 respondents who participated in the study, 1179 (18.7%), 3362 (53.4%), and 1758 (27.9%) were doctors, nurses/midwives and CHWs, respectively. Among the respondents, 4200 (66.7%) use oxytocin for augmentation of labour while 3314 (52.6%) use it for induction of labour. Of the 1758 CHWs, 37.8% and 49% use oxytocin for induction and augmentation of labour, respectively. About 10% of the respondents who use oxytocin for the induction or augmentation of labour incorrectly use the intramuscular route of administration and about 8% incorrectly use intravenous push. Being a doctor, and a healthcare provider from government health facilities were independent positive predictors of the administration of correct dose oxytocin for induction and augmentation of labour. The CHWs were most likely to use the wrong route and dose administration of oxytocin for the induction and augmentation of labour.ConclusionOur study unveiled a concerning clinical practice of intrapartum oxytocin use by healthcare providers in Nigeria – prevalence of intrapartum use of oxytocin, inappropriate routes of administration for induction and augmentation of labour, varied and inappropriately high start dose of administration including unauthorized and high intrapartum use of oxytocin among CHWs.

Introduction: Some studies have shown a potential association between oxytocin use during labour and autism spectrum disorder in children (ASD). We performed a systematic review of recent studies examining this association. Methods: Boolean operators (AND/OR) were used to search MEDLINE using the following search criteria: Autistic Disorder or Autism Spectrum Disorder or Autism and Labour Induction or Labour Augmentation. Articles published in English in 2013 or later were considered. Additional studies were identified by reviewing citations. Only studies conducted on people were included. Studies not accounting for potential confounding factors were excluded. Results: Four retrospective cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. One showed an association between labour induction and augmentation and ASD, one showed a weak association between labour augmentation in boys and ASD, and one showed no association between labour induction or augmentation and ASD. The largest study showed a weak association between labour induction and ASD, which was not significant when siblings were analyzed separately. Discussion and conclusions: Recently published studies do not support the hypothesis of a causal relationship between oxytocin use during labour and ASD. Benefits of medically indicated induction or augmentation of labour outweigh the theoretical risk of ASD.

A protocol for use of oxytocin

Mechanical induction of labor and ecbolic-less vaginal birth after cesarean section: A cohort study

Propranolol to decrease time to delivery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

To compare the use of high- and low-dose oxytocin for augmentation or induction of labor. Clinical trials were accessed through MEDLINE (1966-November 2003). Published literature relevant to the use of oxytocin for augmentation or induction of labor was evaluated. Articles identified from the data sources were evaluated and included if they were clinical trials comparing high-versus low-dose oxytocin for augmentation or induction of labor. Oxytocin is a treatment of choice for augmentation and induction of labor; however, no consensus exists regarding optimal dosing. Relevant studies comparing high-dose (2-6 mU/min) and low-dose (1-2 mU/min) therapy for labor augmentation and induction were evaluated. High-dose oxytocin decreases the time from admission to vaginal delivery, but does not appear to decrease the incidence of cesarean sections when compared with low-dose therapy.

A recent publication regarding intrapartum care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) found that India has the one of the highest proportions of women receiving pharmacological augmentation of labor (51%-78%). National guidelines on the use of uterotonics during labor are available in India, requiring appropriate indication and monitoring for optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. The aim of this research was to quantify induction and augmentation of labor in India and describe the characteristics of these practices and related outcomes for women and newborns. The following electronic databases of published studies and gray literature were searched: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, Global Health, African Journals Online, Global Health Library, Global Index Medicus, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMCare, Google Scholar, JSTOR, and Snowglobe (snowball search). We also consulted gray literature in Clinicaltrials.gov, WHO Trials, Cochrane Trials, OpenGrey, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. All searches were completed on October 6, 2022. Search terms relevant to the research aims were applied, with initial searches for research conducted in any LMIC. The review included primary research articles in English on induction and augmentation of labor in any setting in India, between January 1, 2011 and October 6, 2022. Two reviewers worked independently screening titles and abstracts for relevance to the research aims using Covidence® software. Non-concordant selection was resolved by a third team member. The full texts of included references were then retrieved for review and data extraction. Studies with low quality of evidence were excluded. The data extraction grid was piloted on five full-text reports. One reviewer manually extracted data from each full text. Three categories of variables were included in that grid: study characteristics, exposure variables, and outcome variables. The quality of the evidence was assessed by one reviewer using the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence preferred tools for the corresponding study design. To synthesize and present results, we used percentages for prevalence studies, survey studies, and for descriptive sections of comparative studies. For comparative studies, associations between variables were presented using odds ratios, risk ratios, and risk differences with their 95% confidence interval (CIs) and P-values (where the latter was the only measureused to assess difference). For each quantitative outcome of the review, we compiled and interpreted results extracted from individual studies. Qualitative findings were grouped by domains of interest (settings, category of providers, induction and augmentation procedures). Meta-analysis was not possible due to the marked heterogeneity between studies. This review included 59 studies and provided evidence of moderate quality that high proportions of laboring women receive induction and augmentation of labor for facility-based childbirth across Indian geographies. Included studies reported that from 2.6% to 84.3% of laboring women received induction of labor; and from 9.6% to 86.9% received augmentation of labor. The review indicated that induction and augmentation are used in home-based childbirths as well, although these account for less than 10% of deliveries in India. The review identified several practices related to induction and augmentation of labor that are non-compliant with WHO guidelines, driven by synergistic promoting factors pertaining to both health systems and communities. Studies documented relatively high rates of complications, and reported descriptions suggest that these were related to type and regimens of induction and augmentation drugs, settings, and qualifications of providers. However, statistical associations between induction and augmentation and complications were not assessed. Included studies also revealed varied and inappropriate oxytocin storage conditions across settings. Finally, this review indicated that women were generally satisfied with the care provided to them during induction and augmentation of labor. This review documented high use of pharmaceuticals for the induction and augmentation of labor, including practices that are not compliant with global and Indian recommendations for safety and quality. The review also identified both provider- and community-side drivers of these practices. These findings suggest multiple interventions that can be taken at the policy, facility, and community levels to monitor and improve induction and augmentation practices at health facilities in India. This review was funded by USAID and its protocol was registered in PROSPERO (2022 CRD42022298949).

Complementary therapy and alternative medicine: effects on induction of labour and pregnancy outcome in low risk post-dates women

To compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes following induction of labor (IOL) using oral misoprostol vs mechanical cervical ripening using a cervical ripening balloon (CRB) in singleton pregnancies complicated by small-for-gestational age (SGA), including those with late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR). This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study of women with a singleton pregnancy with estimated fetal weight < 10th percentile and a Bishop score of < 7, who underwent IOL ≥ 37 weeks' gestation for suspected SGA or late-onset FGR in one of three European tertiary centers. Participants were assigned to one of two groups depending on whether they underwent cervical ripening using a CRB without pharmacologic agents (CRB-only group) or received oral misoprostol with or without a CRB (misoprostol group). Women who had had a prior Cesarean delivery (CD), those who received vaginal misoprostol and those with early-onset FGR, fetal structural anomalies or contraindications to vaginal delivery were excluded. The primary outcome was CD. Secondary outcomes included spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) within 24 h after starting IOL, operative vaginal delivery (OVD), oxytocin augmentation, uterine tachysystole and neonatal outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to account for baseline differences and doubly robust estimation was used to adjust for confounders. A total of 848 women was included in the analysis, of whom 431 (50.8%) received a CRB only and 417 (49.2%) received oral misoprostol with or without a CRB. Baseline characteristics differed between the two groups, with women in the misoprostol group being older, more often nulliparous and undergoing IOL later in gestation. After adjustment, there was no significant difference in the rate of CD between the two groups (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.29 (95% CI, 0.82-2.04)). Women receiving misoprostol were significantly less likely to undergo OVD (aOR, 0.33 (95% CI, 0.18-0.64)) or require oxytocin augmentation (aOR, 0.04 (95% CI, 0.03-0.07)) compared with the CRB-only group. SVD within 24 h after starting IOL was also less likely in the misoprostol group (aOR, 0.49 (95% CI, 0.33-0.74)). Uterine tachysystole occurred more frequently in the misoprostol ± CRB group, but this was not associated with higher rates of CD for fetal distress or adverse neonatal outcomes. The rate of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit was similar between the two groups. Subgroup analysis in pregnancies with confirmed late-onset FGR yielded comparable findings. In pregnancies complicated by late-onset FGR or SGA, oral misoprostol did not increase the risk of CD compared with mechanical cervical ripening only, and was associated with a reduced need for operative interventions and labor augmentation. These findings support the use of oral misoprostol as a safe and effective option for IOL in this high-risk population. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these results. © 2025 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Uterine rupture during induced or augmented labor in gravid women with one prior cesarean delivery

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Maternal Hypotension and Tachysystole Following Neuraxial Anesthesia: Effect on Fetus in Labor.

BackgroundOxytocin is widely used for induction and augmentation of labour, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we examined the effect of intra-partum Oxytocin use on neonatal encephalopathy.MethodsThe protocol for this study was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42020165049). We searched Medline, Embase and Web of Science Core Collection databases for papers published between January 1970 and May 2021. We considered all studies involving term and near-term (≥36 weeks’ gestation) primigravidae and multiparous women. We included all randomised, quasi-randomised clinical trials, retrospective studies and non-randomised prospective studies reporting intra-partum Oxytocin administration for induction and/or augmentation of labour. Our primary outcome was neonatal encephalopathy. Risk of bias was assessed in non-randomised studies using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. The RoB 2.0 tool was used for randomised studies. A Mantel-Haenszel statistical method and random effects analysis model were used for meta-analysis. Odds ratios were used to determine effect measure and reported with 95% confidence intervals.ResultsWe included data from seven studies (6 Case-control studies, 1 cluster-randomised trial) of which 3 took place in high-income countries (HICs) and 4 in LMICs. The pooled data included a total of 24,208 women giving birth at or after 36 weeks; 7642 had intra-partum Oxytocin for induction and/or augmentation of labour, and 16,566 did not receive intra-partum Oxytocin. Oxytocin use was associated with an increased prevalence of neonatal encephalopathy (Odds Ratio 2.19, 95% CI 1.58 to 3.04; p < 0.00001).ConclusionsIntra-partum Oxytocin may increase the risk of neonatal encephalopathy. Future clinical trials of uterotonics should include neonatal encephalopathy as a key outcome.

Induction of labor in women with a scarred uterus: does grand multiparity affect the risk of uterine rupture?