The association between the regular use of early-term labor induction and improved birth outcomes: new evidence from an Italian hospital.

BACKGROUND: Associations have been recently reported between the frequent use of early-term preventive labor induction and improvements in multiple parameters of birth health. We sought to replicate these findings in an Italian hospital.

METHODS: The outcomes of 120 consecutively delivered women who were exposed to the alternative method of care were compared to the outcomes of 159 women who received standard management. The primary and secondary outcomes were group cesarean delivery rate and group adverse outcome index score.

RESULTS: Exposed women had a higher induction rate, a lower cesarean delivery rate (1.7% vs. 43.4%), and a lower group AOI Score (0.2 vs.5.8).

CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to high levels of early term preventive labor induction was associated with a lower group cesarean delivery rate and improvement in several other major birth outcomes. An adequately powered randomized controlled trial is needed to further explore this alternative method of care.