Reassessing the length of labour in healthy Turkish women: a retrospective and descriptive study

Abstract

This study aims to use the partograph among Turkish women to (a) assess birth curves, (b) define the phase duration of labour, and (c) identify the factors that affect labour. This study was conducted with 496 women and features a retrospective descriptive analysis and a cross-sectional design. The mean duration for the active phase was 5.75 hours (minimum: 0.92 to maximum: 20.00) in nulliparous women and 3.50 hours (minimum: 0.42 to maximum: 20.00) in multiparous women. The length of the active phase was significantly longer for infants with a length greater than 50 cm according to bivariate analyses. Lastly, according to multivariate analyses, the gestational age was the only covariate that was significantly associated with a prolonged labour (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03–1.62). This study demonstrated that the duration of the active phase for Turkish women lasted longer than Friedman’s study both for nulliparous and multiparous women. Prospective studies are necessary in order to create the birth curves of Turkish women.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject? Friedman was the first researcher to describe the curve and phases of labour in 1954. However, the demographic data of women has changed over the past 50 years. Furthermore, it has been reported that race may influence the duration of labour. There is only one previous study that examined the duration of labour among Turkish women. This study’s results suggest a shorter duration of labour in comparison to Friedman’s sample.

• What do the results of this study add? The mean duration for the active phase was 5.75 hours (minimum: 0.92 – maximum: 20.00) in the nulliparous and 3.50 hours (minimum: 0.42 – maximum: 20.00) in multiparous healthy Turkish women. The duration of the active phase in this study was longer than that observed in Friedman’s study, both for nulliparous and multiparous women. Also, the nulliparous length of the second stage of labour was higher in this study than it was observed to be in Friedman’s study. In addition, the length of the active phase was significantly longer for infants with a length greater than 50 cm according to bivariate analyses. Lastly, according to multivariate analyses, gestational age was the only covariate that can be significantly associated with a prolonged labour (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03–1.62) in nulliparous women. In other words, a higher gestational age tended to prolong the active phase of labour.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The results of this study can be used to reduce the number of unnecessary interventions used in labour management. Further research is needed to confirm the current findings in other races. For instance, additional research should examine the correlation between the labour models and the women’s length of labour.

Keywords:

• Childbirth
• length of labour
• partograph
• Turkish women

Acknowledgements

The researchers would like to thank the nurses at the Women’s Health Center for their help, and to the women who agreed to participate in the study for the advancement of nursing science. There has been no financial assistance with the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.