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Randomised Controlled Trial of Elective Induction of Labour at 40 and 41 Weeks to Prevent Prolonged Pregnancy Cover

Randomised Controlled Trial of Elective Induction of Labour at 40 and 41 Weeks to Prevent Prolonged Pregnancy

Journal of Mother and Child
Volume 30 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)
By: ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,   and    
Open Access
|Apr 2026
Figures & tables

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

CONSORT Flow Diagram.

Figure 2.

Parity of the study participants.

Table 1.

Mode of delivery among participants who had induction of labour at 40 and 41 weeks.

Mode of deliveryGestational AgeTotalχ2p value
40 weeks n=94 (%)41 weeks n=89 (%)N (%)
Vaginal delivery69 (73.4)70 (78.7)139 (76.0)0.6890.406
Caesarean section25 (26.6)19 (21.3)44 (24.0)

[i] χ2: Chi-square test.

Table 2.

Genital tract laceration among participants who had induction of labour at 40 and 41 weeks.

Genital tract lacerationGestational AgeTotalχ2p value
40 weeks n = 94(%)41 weeks n = 89 (%)N (%)
Vaginal laceration
  No94 (100.0)89 (100.0)183 (100.0)
Cervical laceration
  Yes1 (1.1)3 (3.4)4 (2.2)1.138f0.358
  No93 (98.9)86 (96.6)179 (97.8)
Perineal laceration
  Yes2 (2.1)3 (3.4)5 (2.7)0.266f0.676
  No92 (97.9)86 (96.6)178 (97.3)
Genital laceration*
  Yes2 (2.1)5 (5.6)7 (3.8)1.514f0.268
  No92 (97.9)84 (94.4)176 (96.2)

χ2: Chi square test;

f: Fisher’s exact test;

* Some participants had both cervical and perineal lacerations.

Table 3.

Apgar scores of neonates among mothers who had induction of labour at 40 and 41 weeks.

APGAR scoreGestational AgeTotalχ2p value
40 weeks n = 94(%)41 weeks n = 89 (%)N (%)
At 1 minute
< 79 (9.6)13 (14.6)22 (12.0)1.0950.295
≥ 785 (90.4)76 (85.4)161 (88.0)
Mean ± SD7.55 ± 1.037.30 ± 0.981.675t0.096
At 5 minutes
< 73 (3.2)6 (6.7)9 (4.9)1.232F0.320
≥ 791 (96.8)83 (93.3)174 (95.1)
Mean ± SD9.48 ± 1.069.18 ± 1.251.753t0.081

χ2: Chi square test;

f: Fisher’s exact test;

t: Independent Samples T test.

Table 4.

Other neonatal outcomes among the study participants.

VariableGestational AgeTotalχ2p value
40 weeks n = 94(%)41 weeks n = 89 (%)N (%)
Birth weight (kg)
Mean ± SD3.28 ± 0.463.41 ± 0.37−2.037t0.043*
Respiratory distress
Yes14 (14.9)15 (16.9)29 (15.8)0.1320.840
No80 (85.1)74 (83.1)154 (84.2)
Meconium staining of amniotic fluid
Yes11 (11.7)23 (25.8)34 (18.6)6.0430.014
No83 (88.3)66 (74.2)149 (81.4)
SCBU admission
Yes13 (13.8)10 (11.2)23 (12.6)0.2800.597
No81 (86.2)79 (88.8)160 (87.4)
Outcome at discharge
Alive94 (100.0)89 (100.0)183 (100.0)
Dead
Birth trauma
Dislocation3 (3.2)2 (2.3)5 (2.8)0.134f1.000
None91 (96.8)85 (97.7)176 (97.2)

χ2: Chi square test;

f: Fisher’s exact test;

t: Independent Samples T test;

*: p value <0.05.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20263001.d-25-00024 | Journal eISSN: 2719-535X | Journal ISSN: 2719-6488
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Language: English
Page range: 72 - 80
Submitted on: Jul 11, 2025
Accepted on: Dec 12, 2025
Published on: Apr 30, 2026
Published by: Institute of Mother and Child
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
Caesarean section rate,
elective,
induction of labour,
prolonged pregnancy,
maternal outcome,
foetal outcome
Related subjects:
Medicine,
Clinical medicine,
Pediatrics and juvenile medicine,
Paediatric haematology and oncology,
Public health

© 2026 Oluwadare Martins Ipinnimo, Olusola Peter Aduloju, Pius Idowu Ade-Ojo, Tope Michael Ipinnimo, Adeyemi Sunday Adefisan, Oluseyi Igbekele Ipinnimo, Babatunde Ajayi Olofinbiyi, Oluwamuyiwa Temitope Fagbohun, Benedict Tolulope Adeyanju, Adewale Temitope Adeyiolu, published by Institute of Mother and Child
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 30 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)
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