Comparative analysis of transvaginal sonographic cervical assessment and Bishop Score in predicting labour induction success at a tertiary hospital in Ghana.

OBJECTIVES

To compare transvaginal sonographic cervical assessment and Bishop Score (BS) in predicting successful induction (vaginal delivery within 24 hours) among low-risk postdate pregnancies (late term and post-term) induced at a tertiary hospital in Ghana.

DESIGN

An analytical cross-sectional study conducted between 2022 and 2023.

PARTICIPANTS

Women with low-risk post-date pregnancies admitted for induction of labour. Transvaginal sonographic cervical assessment and BS were done for participants before the start of induction.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The predictive abilities of the transvaginal sonographic cervical length (TVSCL), the BS and the posterior cervical angle (PCA) in predicting vaginal delivery.

RESULTS

Of 184 women recruited, 168 were included in the final analysis. The rate of vaginal delivery was 82.1%. Successful induction occurred in 117/168 participants (69.9%) [CI:62.1-76.5]. TVSCL ≤ 2.5cm was comparable in accuracy with BS ≥ 4 in predicting vaginal delivery. For predicting vaginal delivery within 24 hours, the accuracy of the PCA at ≥ 106 was marginally higher than the BS [AUC: 62.3; 61.0], although both were statistically significant. 95% of women preferred transvaginal sonographic assessment.

CONCLUSION

BS and transvaginal sonographic assessment were comparable in predicting delivery when used for pre-induction cervical assessment. Transvaginal sonographic cervical assessment was better tolerated.

FUNDING: None declared.