ArticlePloS one2013
Patterns and Outcomes of Induction of Labour in Africa and Asia: a secondary analysis of the WHO Global Survey on Maternal and Neonatal Health.
Article in PloS one, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 56 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
56 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pharmacological and mechanical interventions for labour induction in outpatient settings.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2017Pooled it
- Prevalence of Labor Induction, its Indication, and Feto-Maternal Outcomes in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financingPooled it
- Evaluating women's experiences and satisfaction with labour induction in India: a comparison of the participant generated experience and satisfaction (PaGES) index with standard methods.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Trial
- Conventional versus modified application of COOK Cervical Ripening Balloon for induction of labor at term: a randomized controlled trial.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2022Trial
- Factors Predicting Successful Vaginal Delivery Following Induction of Labor in Term Pregnancy.International journal of women's health · 2022Trial
- Trial
- Prediction of Postpartum Haemorrhage After Labour Induction: An Internally Validated 10-Hour Risk-Stratification Threshold.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Methods of induction of labour: a network meta-analysis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2026Article
- Review
- Does induction or augmentation of labor increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage in pregnant women with anemia? A multicenter prospective cohort study in India.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2025Article
- Induction of labour outcomes in a tertiary hospital: the Ghanaian cervix and misoprostol 25ug (GCAM-25 STUDY)-a cross-sectional study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Safety and effectiveness of different modes of labor induction among pregnant women delivering at referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a cohort study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Vaginal delivery following induction and associated factors among laboring women at South Wollo Zone Public Hospitals of Ethiopia, 2023.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Article
- Caesarean Section frequency in Nulliparous Women induced at 39 weeks versus conventional management: An open label random allocation study.Pakistan journal of medical sciences · 2024Article
- Risk factors for labour induction and augmentation: a multicentre prospective cohort study in India.The Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia · 2024Article
- Maternal and neonatal outcome in pregnant women undergone induction of labor at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Article
- An Analysis of the Mode of Delivery, Risk Factors, and Subgroups with High Caesarean Birth Rates Using Robson Classification System.Maternal and child health journal · 2024Article
- Efficacy and safety of double balloon catheter and dinoprostone for labor induction in multipara at term.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2024Article
- Lived experiences of women during induction of labour at a tertiary hospital in Ghana: A qualitative study.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLabour induction should be performed where benefit outweighs potential harm, however epidemiology of induction in lower-income countries is not well described. We used the WHO Global Survey dataset to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of labour induction in 192,538 deliveries in 253 facilities across 16 countries in Africa and Asia.
methodsData was analyzed separately for Africa and Asia. Prevalence of indications, methods, success and characteristics associated with labour induction were determined. Multilevel logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between induction (with medical indication and elective) and maternal/perinatal outcomes.
resultsInduction accounted for 4.4% (Africa) and 12.1% (Asia) of deliveries. Oxytocin alone was the most common method (45.9% and 37.5%) and success rates were generally over 80%. Medically indicated inductions were associated with increased adjusted odds of Apgar <7 at 5 minutes, low birthweight, NICU admission and fresh stillbirth in both regions. The odds of caesarean section in Africa were reduced (Adj OR 0.61, 95%CI 0.42-0.88). Elective induction was associated with increased adjusted odds of NICU (Africa) and ICU (Asia) admissions. DISCUSSION: Induction was generally less common than in higher-income countries. Prostaglandin use was uncommon despite evidence supporting use. Induction for medical indications may be associated with poorer outcomes due to maternal baseline risks. Despite one-third of elective inductions occurring at <39 weeks, the risk of maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality was not elevated following elective inductions.
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