Abstract

Introduction: Induction of labour is defined as the methods of ripening the cervix to initiate labour process. This is a commonest obstetric intervention. Objectives: To determine the time from induction of labour to active phase of first stage of labour, number of vaginal deliveries in each arm, number of instrumental deliveries, caesarian sections, maternal and fetal effects were considered. Methods: The study was carried out as a randomized controlled trial at the New unit for Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Teaching Hospital Peradeniya. The study group consisted of 329 pregnant women and divided in to four arms as Prostaglandin, Foley induction, sweeping of membrane (ASM) and control arm. Results: Mean age was 29.3 in the study group. Considering the ethnicity 62 %(n= 203) were Sinhalese, 21% (n= 72) were Muslim and 15% (n= 54) were Tamil. After the 48 hours of induction a favorable cervix was achieved in 77.3%, 64.8%, 63.5% and 55.6 % respectively among Prostaglandin induction, folley induction, ASM and in controls. But there were no significance (p= 0.12). But considering the time to start of induction to women goes in to active labour was significantly high in induction arm (p=0.026). Also there were no significance of number of vaginal deliveries (p-=0.83), forceps deliveries (p=0.65), and caesarian (P=0.47) among study group. Both maternal and fetal adverse outcome were very low and no significance. Conclusion: The methods of induction are does not influence the mode of delivery and also the need for augmentation. But we found that significant difference of time taken from introduction of induction method to onset of active labour. Neither any method of induction is significantly associated with common side effects nor does it have negative impact on severe maternal or neonatal outcome.