Comparison of Modified Labor Induction Strategies for Pregnant Women at a Single Tertiary Center Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted healthcare systems and obstetric practices worldwide. Labor induction is a common procedure for preventing obstetric complications in high-risk populations. This study evaluated perinatal outcomes of labor induction using a modified management protocol in a tertiary care center during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study by reviewing electronic structured delivery records of women who underwent elective labor induction between June 2020 and October 2022. We analyzed maternal characteristics, maternal outcomes, and neonatal outcomes during the pre-pandemic (June 2020 to May 2021) and pandemic periods (May 2021 to October 2022).

RESULTS

The study included 976 cases: 325 pregnancies in the pre-pandemic group and 651 in the pandemic group. The pandemic group showed earlier gestational age at delivery (39 vs. 40 weeks, < 0.01) and lower body mass index (27.1 vs. 27.5 kg/m, = 0.03). During the pandemic period, we observed a significant increase in labor induction cases and a decrease in cesarean sections. Neonatal outcomes, including Apgar scores and intensive care admissions, showed no significant differences between groups. Subgroup analysis identified advanced maternal age (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.03-1.14; < 0.01) and primiparity (OR = 5.24; 95% CI = 2.75-9.99; < 0.01) as independent risk factors for cesarean delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

Even under modified protocols for labor induction during the COVID-19 pandemic, more pregnancies underwent labor induction while achieving a significant reduction in cesarean sections. Advanced maternal age and primiparity were identified as independent risk factors associated with cesarean delivery.