Comparing the partogragh form results among women admitted in latent and active phase of labor: a cross sectional study

The use of partograph increases the quality and regularity of maternal and fetal examinations during labor and makes the rapid detection of potential problems in bothmother and fetus. Since this form is not used in most hospitals across the country, the present study was conducted with the purpose of comparingpartograph results of women admittedin their latent and active phases oflabor. This descriptive-comparative study was conducted on 500 mothers admitted to TaleghaniHospital of Tabriz for delivery. The partics were divided into two groups, the latent phasegroup (250 women) and the active phase group (250 women). Data were collected through observation of the labor, interviewing mothers and the patients’ records. Results showed that 6.8% of fetuses in the latent phase group and 5.8% in the active phase group suffered from FHRdisorders. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of the use of oxytocin to stimulate 0f labor and amniotomy, and the administration of Ampicillin, hyoscine, pethidine and promethazine. The mean duration of the active phase was also significantly different between the latent phase group (3.9±2.5 hours) and the active phase group (2.7±1.9 hours). Admission of women during their latent phase of labor is associated withincreased duration of labor, complications and interventions performed on the mother and the fetus. It is thereforerecommended that the doctor or midwife in charge of admitting women in labor refuse to admit them during their latent phase of labor, unless there is sufficient reason for hospitalization.