Intermittent Fetal Heart Monitoring Through Moyo Doppler Improves Nonreassuring Fetal Heart Rate Detection in Hospital of Ethiopia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to assess the effect of intermittent fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring using Moyo Doppler compared with fetoscope in hospitals of Ethiopia, 2023.

BACKGROUND

To facilitate more prompt identification of a hypoxic fetus, Laerdal Global Health has recently introduced the Moyo FHR monitor. Nevertheless, there exists limited knowledge regarding its efficacy derived from multicenter contextual trials conducted in resource-constrained environments, specifically in Ethiopia.

METHODS

This randomized trial (PACTR202305607000259) enrolled 2518 low-risk laboring women in the study during the study period, using a simple randomization technique from September 28, 2022, to February 28, 2023. A total of 1259 and 1259 were followed by Moyo and Pinard fetoscope, respectively. A P-value of less than .05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

The abnormal FHR was detected among 60 women (5.1%) and 30 women (2.4%) (P = .001) in the Moyo and Pinard fetoscope arms, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The Moyo FHR monitor has demonstrated efficacy in detecting abnormal FHRs when compared with the Pinard fetoscope.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: It is recommended that healthcare systems in low-resource settings consider implementing the Moyo device for FHR monitoring.