Comparison of the WHO Labour Care Guide Versus a Modified Partograph for Maternal and Foetal Outcomes at a Rural Care Centre: A Preventive Controlled Trial

Objective This study aimed to compare the WHO Labour Care Guide (WLCG) with the Modified Partograph concerning maternal and foetal outcomes in a rural healthcare setting. Methods A prospective comparative study was conducted on 100 labouring women admitted to a rural maternity centre. Of these, 50 women were managed using the WLCG, while the other 50 were managed using the Modified Partograph. Data on demographic characteristics, labour progression, maternal outcomes, and foetal outcomes were collected and statistically analysed. Results The demographic characteristics, including age (p = 0.586), parity (p = 0.294), socioeconomic status (p = 0.158), and mode of labour onset (p = 0.680), showed no significant differences between the two groups. The duration of the second stage of labour was significantly shorter in the WLCG group (14.83 ± 7.78 minutes) compared to the Modified Partograph group (21.73 ± 10.53 minutes, p = 0.001). No significant difference was noted in the duration of the active stage (p = 0.075) or mode of delivery (p = 0.295). A significantly higher percentage of women reported a better birth experience in the WLCG group (p < 0.001). The causes of intervention (p = 0.743), APGAR scores (p = 0.907), neonatal mortality (p = 0.603), and maternal complications (p = 0.419) were comparable. However, NICU admissions were significantly lower in the WLCG group (30% vs. 52%, p = 0.025). Conclusion The WLCG demonstrated advantages in reducing the second stage of labour duration, improving women's birth experiences, and lowering NICU admission rates compared to the Modified Partograph, without compromising maternal and foetal safety. This suggests the potential benefits of adopting WLCG in rural obstetric care settings.