PERCEPTION AND ACCEPTABILITY OF CERVICAL RIPENING AND INDUCTION OF LABOUR AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE IN USMANU DANFODIO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SOKOTO

*Ahmed Yabuku, Isah U. Mani, Abubakar A. Panti, Garba A. Jamila, Tukur D. Sagir, Rabiu F. Anas and Chappa M. Aliyu

ABSTRACT

Background: Induction of labour is the one of the most important intervention in obstetrics practice. It is the initiation of uterine contraction after age of viability with intact foetal membranes with the aim of achieving vaginal delivery. Aim of The Study: The aim of this study was to assess perception and acceptability of cervical ripening and induction of labour among women attending antenatal care at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study involving 316 pregnant women seen at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching hospital Sokoto from 1st June to 31st August 2017. They were interviewed using self/interviewer administered questionnaire. The questionnaire contained items on socio-demographic characteristics, reproductive profile, and assessments of awareness, perception and acceptability of cervical ripening and induction of labour. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The majority of respondents were between 25 and 29 years; among them 63.3% were Hausa and 70.6% were Muslims. Most of the respondents were multigravidae. Majority of the respondents (73.1%) were aware of cervical ripening and induction of labour. Their main source of information was from their friends. Overall perception was 64.6% and only 31.6% were willing to accept the procedure if indicated. Most respondents (54.2%) would reject the procedure because they thought it was painful. Conclusion: The awareness of cervical ripening and induction of labour was good but the perception and acceptability of the procedure was low among the women attending antenatal care at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital. Regular and proper counselling is recommended in order to correct wrong perceptions and to further increase acceptability of cervical ripening and induction of labour when indicated.

Keywords: Cervical ripening, Induction of labour, Nigeria.