Social induction of labour: experience in an urban teaching hospital in Nigeria.

PURPOSE: To document the experience with social induction of labour (IOL) and compare its outcome with electively induced labour for prolonged pregnancy.

METHODS

A prospective matched case-control study.

RESULT: Social IOL was significantly common in women of high social class (78.3 vs. 45.6%, P = 0.03) and the commonest indication was because the parturient was 'tired of pregnancy' (60.9%). There was no significant difference between both groups in the mean induction to delivery interval, caesarean section and instrumental delivery rates, 5-minute Apgar score <7 and early neonatal death.

CONCLUSION

Social IOL in well-selected cases has comparable outcomes to elective IOL for prolonged pregnancy. There is still the need for evaluating the determinants of maternal request for social IOL and the development of guidelines to regulate its practice.