International Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Background: Induction of labor (IOL) is a common obstetric intervention used when the benefits of delivery outweigh the risks of continuing pregnancy. However, its impact on the mode of delivery and perinatal outcomes remains a subject of global debate.
Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted on 300 women (150 induced, 150 spontaneous) at Shrimati Heera Kunwar Baa Mahila Hospital from February 2022 to January 2023.
Results: The induced labor group had a significantly higher rate of Cesarean sections (30%) compared to the spontaneous group (4.7%, p<0.0001). While the latent phase of labor was significantly shorter in the induced group (4.8 vs. 5.8 hours), there were higher rates of NICU admissions (20% vs. 6%) and maternal complications like PPH (7.3% vs. 5.3%).
Conclusion: Induction of labor is associated with increased operative interference and higher maternal and fetal morbidity compared to spontaneous labor, emphasizing the need for judicious case selection and careful monitoring.