Rates and indicators of Continuous Electronic fetal monitoring - A study from Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Background: This observational study aimed to describe the rates and indicators for continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) during normal labour and to compare them between women who have had one pregnancy (PG) and women who have already delivered two or more children (G2 and above).
Methods: The study was conducted at Mother and Child Hospital, Buraidah from July-Sept, 2013 as a descriptive cross sectional study.
Results: Seventy four percent of labouring women had EFM and 25.7% had intermittent auscultation. Amongst the EFM group 62% were Primigravidas and 37.9% were multigravidas. When compared between PG and multigravidas, maconium staining (14.18vs 1.22, p value=0.001), maternal concerns for fetal heart rate (14.93 vs 6.10 p value=0.049), and syntocinon usage (14.18 vs 2.44 p value=0.005) were significantly prominent indications for Primigravidas. However trial of scar (0.00vs 15.85 p value <0.001) and associated medical problems (6.72 vs 19.51 p value 0.004) were the most frequent indications for G2 and above. For a large population of women including 13 PG and 18 Multigravidas (Overall 14.3%) there was no particular indication assigned for EFM and this was more frequent amongst Gravida2 and above (P < 0.013).
Conclusion: Electronic fetal monitoring is a very common obstetric intervention. It remains a challenge to review its rates and indications in order to identify areas that needs improvement.
Key Words: Electronic fetal monitoring, Primigravida, labour, Saudi Arabia
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).