Frequency of Need for Induction of Labour Among Pregnant Women with Anterior Placenta Presenting: A Tertiary Care Experience
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59058/jaimc.2026.24.2.92Keywords:
Induction of labour, term pregnancy, anterior placenta, onset of labour, mode of delivery.Abstract
Background & Objective: The placenta, which is typically found at the fundus, anterior, or posterior uterine wall, is an essential organ that supports fetal growth during pregnancy. An anterior placenta is typically regarded as a normal placental position when detected by ultrasound. It may affect the onset of labor, but obstetric complications are not typically caused by it. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of need for induction of labour among pregnant women with an anterior placenta presenting at a tertiary care hospital.
Methodology: This retrospective analysis was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology over a period of six months from 1st May 2024 to 30th October 2024. Pregnant women with ultrasound-confirmed anterior placenta, fulfilling the inclusion criteria, were enrolled after ethical approval and informed consent. Baseline investigations and ultrasound examinations were performed to confirm placental location. Patients were assessed at 40 weeks of gestation for the onset of spontaneous labour. Data regarding maternal age, parity, body mass index (BMI), need for induction of labour, and mode of delivery were recorded using a predefined proforma. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean maternal age was 27.77 ± 4.15 years (range: 18–40 years). The mean BMI was 32.09 ± 3.45 kg/m², and the mean parity was 2.06 ± 1.46. Vaginal delivery occurred in 74.4% of cases, while 25.6% underwent caesarean section. Induction of labour was required in 24.4% of women, whereas 75.6% experienced a spontaneous onset of labour.
Conclusion: Anterior placental location is associated with a lower requirement for induction of labour, as the majority of women with an anterior placenta achieved spontaneous onset of labour at term.
Downloads
References
Mensah TA et al. Induction of labour outcomes in a tertiary hospital: the Ghanaian cervix and misoprostol 25 µg (GCAM-25 study)—a cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025;25(1):123. doi:10.1186/s12884-025-07345-7.
Tanwar M et al. Analysis of labor induction in a tertiary care hospital. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2020;9(11):4627-4632. doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20204658.
Yadav SK et al. Induction of labour among pregnant women in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care centre. J Nepal Med Assoc. 2023;61(265):687-690. doi:10.31729/jnma.8235.
Artuso H, Davis DL Trends and characteristics of women undergoing induction of labour in a tertiary hospital setting: a cross-sectional study. Women Birth. 2022;35(2):e181-e187. doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2021.03.004.
Lutgendorf MA et al. Pregnancy outcomes after implementation of an induction of labor care pathway. AJOG Glob Rep. 2024;4(1):100292. doi:10.1016/j.xagr.2023.100292.
Jaiswal S et al. Maternal and neonatal outcome in pregnant women who underwent induction of labor at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024;24(1):387. doi:10.1186/s12884-024-06553-3.
Sharma S et al. Analysis of indications of induction of labor and feto-maternal outcome in a tertiary care hospital. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2017;6(8):3519-3523. doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20173436.
Coates D et al. A systematic scoping review of clinical indications for induction of labour. PLoS One. 2020;15(1):e0228196. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228196.
Keulen JK et al. Induction of labour at 41 weeks versus expectant management until 42 weeks (INDEX): multicentre, randomised non-inferiority trial. BMJ. 2019;364:l344. doi:10.1136/bmj.l344.
Yosef T, Getachew D Proportion and outcome of induction of labor among mothers who delivered in a teaching hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Front Public Health. 2021;9:686682. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.686682.
Torricelli M et al. Anterior placental location influences onset and progress of labor and postpartum outcome. Placenta. 2015;36(4):463-466. doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2015.01.020.
Granfors M et al. Placental location and pregnancy outcomes in nulliparous women: a population-based cohort study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2019;98(8):988-996. doi:10.1111/aogs.13578.
Fidan U et al. The effect of anatomical placental location on the third stage of labor. Clin Anat. 2017;30(4):508-511. doi:10.1002/ca.22864.
Granfors M et al. Placental location and pregnancy outcomes in nulliparous women: a population-based cohort study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2019;98(8):988-996. doi:10.1111/aogs.13578.
Dahlen HG et al. Intrapartum interventions and outcomes for women and children following induction of labour at term in uncomplicated pregnancies: a 16-year population-based linked data study. BMJ Open. 2021;11(6):e047040. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047040.
Muller P et al. Induction of labour at 39 weeks and adverse outcomes in low-risk pregnancies according to ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation, and parity: a national cohort study in England. PLoS Med. 2023;20(7):e1004259. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1004259.
Whitcombe DD et al. Placental location site and associated intrapartum, postpartum, and neonatal complications: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis. J Clin Med. 2025;14(5):1649. doi:10.3390/jcm14051649.
Lee SU et al. A multicenter, retrospective comparison study of pregnancy outcomes according to placental location in placenta previa. J Clin Med. 2024;13(3):675. doi:10.3390/jcm13030675.
Vinturache A et al. Perinatal outcomes of maternal overweight and obesity in term infants: a population-based cohort study in Canada. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015;15:103. doi:10.1186/s12884-015-0544-5.
Phogat A, Agarwal S Factors influencing postdatism and fetomaternal outcomes in postdated pregnancies: a prospective study on spontaneous and induced labor. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2024;13(11):3245-3249. doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20243369.
Alshammari RF et al. Role of parity and age in cesarean section rate among women: a retrospective cohort study in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(2):1486. doi:10.3390/ijerph20021486.
Tairy D et al. Placental lesions and pregnancy outcome in anterior as compared to posterior placenta previa. Reprod Sci. 2021;28(11):3241-3247. doi:10.1007/s43032-021-00572-z.
Liu H et al. Effect of placenta location detected by ultrasound on the severity of placenta accreta spectrum in patients with placenta previa and placenta accreta spectrum. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023;23(1):406. doi:10.1186/s12884-023-05724-0.
Jing L et al. Effect of site of placentation on pregnancy outcomes in patients with placenta previa. PLoS One. 2018;13(7):e0200252. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0200252.
Jang DG et al. Maternal outcomes according to placental position in placenta previa. Int J Med Sci. 2011;8(5):439-444. doi:10.7150/ijms.8.439.
Downloads
Published
Versions
- 17-06-2026 (2)
- 17-06-2026 (1)
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Alisha Pasha, Shamsa Arshad Butt, Kiran Iqbal, Nabiha Iqbal, Sadia Ilyas, Iram Iqbal (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.