Artificial Induction of Labor: A Prospective Multicentric Study of 100 Cases in Mauritania

medecine

Background: Induction of labor is a common obstetrical practice aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. While widely studied in developed countries, limited data exist in Mauritania. Objective: To evaluate the frequency, indications, methods, outcomes, and maternal–fetal prognosis of artificial induction of labor in Mauritania. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study over nine months (April–December 2023) in two tertiary centers in Nouakchott: the Centre Hospitalier National (CHN) and Hôpital Cheikh Zayed. One hundred pregnant women undergoing induction of labor were included. Data were collected prospectively and analyzed using SPSS. Results: The mean maternal age was 29.7 years (range: 16–44). The main indications for induction were premature rupture of membranes (38%), post-term pregnancy (21%), and hypertensive disorders (19%). Oxytocin was the primary method of induction (70%), followed by misoprostol (26%) and mechanical methods (4%). Vaginal delivery occurred in 75% of cases, while cesarean section was required in 25%. Maternal complications were rare (5%), mostly hyperstimulation. Neonatal outcomes were favorable: Apgar score <7 at 1 minute in 21% of neonates, improving to 95% ≥7 at 5 minutes; neonatal transfers occurred in 5%. Conclusion: Artificial induction of labor represented 5.56% of all deliveries in our study. Oxytocin was the most used method, with good maternal and neonatal outcomes. Standardized protocols and access to low-dose misoprostol (25 µg) could further improve safety and efficiency in Mauritania.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.