Research

Beliefs and practices in using misoprostol for induction of labour among obstetricians in Zimbabwe

M G Madziyire, B Mateveke, M F Gidiri

Abstract


Background. Misoprostol is commonly used for induction of labour in term pregnancy. There are different routes and dosing schedules for administering the drug.

Objectives. To describe the prescribing pattern (dose, route, duration), beliefs and factors affecting use of misoprostol for inducing term pregnancy among practising obstetricians in Zimbabwe.

Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was undertaken among practising obstetricians in Zimbabwe. A questionnaire was sent as an email, WhatsApp or short message service (SMS, or text) web link to all practising obstetricians in Zimbabwe using the SurveyMonkey online tool. All consenting practitioners were requested to respond online. The responses were analysed using the SurveyMonkey software.

Results. There were 52 responses from the 63 questionnaires, a response rate of 82.5%. Seventy-six percent preferred oral misoprostol for induction of labour. The most common indication for induction was prolonged pregnancy accounting for 58% of respondents. The largest group of the practitioners who responded (36%) learnt their misoprostol dosing regimen from WHO/FIGO/NICE guidelines. A composite of highly variable dose regimens referred to as ‘other regimens’ was the dosing regimen preferred by 34% of respondents. Fiftyeight percent of practitioners used two cycles of misoprostol dosing before concluding that induction had failed and 52% would resort to caesarean section immediately if induction failed.

Conclusion. The results show marked heterogeneity in the dosing schedules employed by obstetricians for induction of labour with the majority not following standard misoprostol guidelines for labour induction.


Authors' affiliations

M G Madziyire, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

B Mateveke, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Harare Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe

M F Gidiri, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

Full Text

PDF (83KB)

Keywords

induction of labour; misoprostol

Cite this article

South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2017;23(1):24-27. DOI:10.7196/SAJOG.2017.v23i1.1163

Article History

Date submitted: 2017-02-09
Date published: 2017-05-16

Article Views

Abstract views: 2809
Full text views: 1392

Comments on this article

*Read our policy for posting comments here


The South African Medical Association is the official publisher of the SAJOG.

                                                           

                                        SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

                                                         Events | Careers | CPD

 

The South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology| Online ISSN: 2305-8862 | Print ISSN: 0038-2329 | 

Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial Works License (CC BY-NC 4.0) | 

This journal is protected by a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial Works License (CC BY-NC 4.0) | Read our privacy policy.

SAMA Journals: South African Medical Journal African Journal of Health Professions Education South African Journal of Bioethics and Law South African Journal of Child Health | Southern African Journal of Critical Care  | South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | Undergraduate Research in Health African Journal of Thoracic and Critical Care Medicine  | Southern African Journal of Public Health