Pelvic dimensions and the outcome of trial labour in Shona and Zulu primigravidas

Abstract

Pelvic contraction is very prevalent in Africa while radiological facilities to assess pelvic size and shape are seldom available. A trial of labour using simple guidelines on a cervicograph can enable the midwife to detect dysfunctional labour and can help medical staff to manage these problems. Radiological checks in 116 Black primigravid patients with dysfunctional labour demonstrated that an active trial of labour is accurate in determining which of these patients have marked disproportion requiring caesarean section, minimal disproportion requiring assisted delivery, or primary uterine inertia responding to oxytocic stimulation. The role of radiological pelvimetry in African obstetrics is discussed, and the radiological features of the Shona and Zulu pelves in this series are described.