A Preventive Approach to Obstetric Care in a Rural Hospital: Association Between Higher Rates of Preventive Labor Induction and Lower Rates of Cesarean Delivery

Abstract

A preventive approach to reducing cesarean deliveries may be possible. This study found that practitioners who often used risk-guided, prostaglandin-assisted labor induction had a lower cesarean delivery rate without increases in rates of other adverse birth outcomes. Randomized controlled trials of this method of care are warranted.