Caesarean Section frequency in Nulliparous Women induced at 39 weeks versus conventional management: An open label random allocation study.

Objective: To compare frequency of caesarean section in singleton primary-para women induced at 39 week and its comparison with conventional management. The other objective was comparison of perinatal and neonatal outcomes.

Method: Open random allocation study was conducted at Gynae/Obst Department JPMC during period from 1^st June 2022 to 30^th September 2023. Primiparous women with singleton pregnancy without risk factors with gestational age 38 weeks 0 days to 38 weeks six days attending the anti-natal clinic offered to participate after consent. Non-probability convenience sampling method was used for induction. Randomization was done using random number table into one of the two groups, Group-A in which induction was done at 39 weeks while in Group-B induction was done conventionally. Mean age ±SD, gestational age and delivery time was calculated and compared by Student's t test. Frequency of CS, perinatal and neonatal outcomes was compared by χ² test.

Results: Eighty-two women were inducted in Group-A and eighty-five in Group-B. The mean delivery time in Group-A was significantly more at 8.12±2.77 hours while in Group-B was 7.0±2.62 hours (p = .005). Frequency of CS between two groups was not statistically significant, it was 5 (6.1%) in Group-A and 2 (2.4%) in Group-B (p = 0.412). No significant difference in frequency of NICU admission was seen, in Group-A 8.54% babies were admitted to NICU while in Group-B 16.47% were admitted to NICU (p = 0.122).

Conclusion: No significant difference was observed in frequencies of CS, Foetal, Neonatal, and Maternal outcomes.