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Survey of women’s views of induction of labour at two maternity Trusts in the West Midlands

The numbers of women undergoing induction of labour (IOL) at term is steadily increasing with current estimates suggesting that overall 33% of women in England underwent induction of labour in 2019 to 2020 from 20% of all births in 2007 to 2008[i]. The rate for nulliparous women is as high as 36%. Induction is undertaken for a variety of reasons, the most common being post maturity and following pre-labour rupture of the membranes at term.

Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (BWC) and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) are undertaking quality improvement work around induction of labour and we will undertake a survey of women’s views of induction to support this and inform further work we intend to undertake in the future. The questionnaire was informed by data from a systematic review recently published.[ii]

This a cross-sectional study using postal questionnaires containing both open and closed questions and the opportunity for women to describe their experiences of induction of labour across two trusts. It is currently with UoB ethics with a view to starting the study in February 2021.

i) NHS Digital (2020) NHS Maternity Statistics, England 2019-20. Available at:
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-maternity-statistics/2019-20 Accessed 29.10.20.

ii) Coates R, Cupples G, Scamell A, McCourt C. Women's experiences of induction of labour: Qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis. Midwifery. 2019 Feb;69:17-28. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2018.10.013. Epub 2018 Oct 25. PMID: 30390463.

Lead: Sara Kenyon, Fiona Cross- Sudworth

Dates: February - July 2021

Funding: ARC Funded

Mon 01 Feb 2021, 00:00 | Tags: Projects Maternity Theme 4