Delphi consensus statement on intrapartum fetal monitoring in low‐resource settings

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 146; no. 1; pp. 8 - 16
• Main Authors: Housseine, Natasha, Punt, Marieke C., Browne, Joyce L., ‘t Hooft, Janneke, Maaløe, Nanna, Meguid, Tarek, Theron, Gerhard B., Franx, Arie, Grobbee, Diederick E., Visser, Gerard H.A., Rijken, Marcus J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley and Sons Inc 01.07.2019
• Subjects: Admission test; Adult; Clinical; Consensus; Delphi Technique; Female; Fetal monitoring; Fetal Monitoring - standards; From the Figo Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health Committee; Guidelines; Heart Rate, Fetal; Humans; Intermittent auscultation; Labor Stage, First; Labor Stage, Second; Low‐ and middle‐income countries; Low‐resource settings; Poverty; Pregnancy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Admission test; Intermittent auscultation; Low- and middle-income countries; Fetal monitoring; Low-resource settings; Guidelines
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.12724

Objective To determine acceptable and achievable strategies of intrapartum fetal monitoring in busy low‐resource settings. Methods Three rounds of online Delphi surveys were conducted between January 1 and October 31, 2017. International experts with experience in low‐resource settings scored the importance of intrapartum fetal monitoring methods. Results 71 experts completed all three rounds (28 midwives, 43 obstetricians). Consensus was reached on (1) need for an admission test, (2) handheld Doppler for intrapartum fetal monitoring, (3) intermittent auscultation (IA) every 30 minutes for low‐risk pregnancies during the first stage of labor and after every contraction for high‐risk pregnancies in the second stage, (4) contraction monitoring hourly for low‐risk pregnancies in the first stage, and (5) adjunctive tests. Consensus was not reached on frequency of IA or contraction monitoring for high‐risk women in the first stage or low‐risk women in the second stage of labor. Conclusion There is a gap between international recommendations and what is physically possible in many labor wards in low‐resource settings. Research on how to effectively implement the consensus on fetal assessment at admission and use of handheld Doppler during labor and delivery is crucial to support staff in achieving the best possible care in low‐resource settings. International fetal monitoring strategies are not achievable in many low‐resource settings. Consensus was reached that admission assessment and Doppler are the first steps towards acceptable surveillance.