Comparison of Foley catheter and dinoprostone for labor induction in nulliparous women with Bishop’s score less than 5

Objectives: To compare Dinoprostone to Foley catheter as a cervical ripening method in primigravidae with Bishop’s score less than 5. Materials and Methods: This study utilized a quasi-experimental research design to investigate the induction of labor in primigravidae with low Bishop’s score. The research was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy from July 2022 to December 2023. Results: In comparison to the Foley group, Dinoprostone exhibited higher efficacy in cervical ripening (74.1% vs. 44.0%; p = 0.02). Dinoprostone was associated with a shorter time to delivery (13.92 hours vs. 29.67 hours; p < 0.05). The requirement for oxytocin augmentation was higher in the Foley group (72.0% vs. 7.4%, p < 0.05). The rate of vaginal delivery within 24 hours was higher in the Dinoprostone group (74.1% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.05). No differences were noted in the rates of overall vaginal delivery. Dinoprostone use was associated with a higher likelihood of uterine tachysystole (18.5% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.05), and the incidence of prelabor rupture of membranes during induction of labor was comparatively higher in this group (40.7% vs. 12.0%, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Both labor induction methods, utilizing Foley and Dinoprostone in women with low Bishop scores (Bishop’s score < 5), demonstrate comparable effectiveness. The duration from induction of labor to the completion of labor is lengthier, and the need for oxytocin augmentation is greater in the Foley group. However, complications such as tachysystole and prelabor rupture of membranes during labor induction are more prevalent in the Dinoprostone group. The observed complications do not differ between the two groups.