Induction of Labour Snapshot Audit (NMPA)

Based on births in NHS maternity services in England, Scotland and Wales during 2023, this report from the National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA) finds that one in three women and birthing people had an induction of labour (IOL). Of those who were induced, one in three gave birth by caesarean.

Careful consideration must be given to providing support to aid decision-making [regarding IOL], ensuring clear unbiased information

Increasing maternal age was found to be strongly associated with an increasing likelihood of giving birth by caesarean following IOL – and those giving birth at or after 41 weeks of gestation, and those from ethnic minority groups, had a higher likelihood of giving birth by caesarean. Babies born to those from Black ethnic groups were more likely, and babies born to women and birthing people from Asian, Mixed or ‘Other’ ethnic groups were less likely, to be assigned an Apgar score of less than 7 at 5 minutes following IOL, compared with babies born to white women and birthing people. As such, this report includes a recommendation to use local and national data on variation in IOL practice and disparities in outcomes, to inform the planning of service provision and the delivery of counselling.

This report also contains key findings, and recommendations for improvement, relating to Trust/board variation as well as data quality and capture.

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