title: Duration of labor with spontaneous onset at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Duration of labor varies from one pregnancy to another and a period of less than 12 hours is regarded as normal. Modern obstetric practice involves active management of labor with the aim of preventing prolonged labor and its sequelae. The main objective of this study was to determine and compare the average duration of labor of spontaneous onset between nulliparas (Po) and multiparas (P ≥ 1) and to determine factors affecting duration of labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a prospective study carried out between 15 May and 14 June 2004 at the Labor Ward of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Two hundred and thirty-eight women who satisfied the inclusion criteria were studied. The inclusion criteria were term pregnancy with vertex presentation, labor with spontaneous onset, live fetus at presentation and spontaneous vertex delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ± SD admission-delivery interval in labor ward was shorter (3.77 ± 2.88 hours) among multiparas than that of nulliparas (5.00 ± 3.17 hours) (P = 0.235). The mean ± SD duration of labor (from the onset of labor to delivery) was shorter among multiparas (8.73 ± 4.17 hours) than that of nulliparas (11.23 ± 4.29 hours) (P = 0.426). The differences were not significant (t-test, P > 0.05). Maternal age and individual parity had significant correlation with the duration of labor in this study (Pearson correlation = -0.019, -0.027, respectively, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interestingly, duration of labor was not significantly different among multiparas and nulliparas although it was shorter. Correlation existed between duration of labor and maternal age and individual parity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. munirijaiya@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Munir'deen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ijaiya
authors.forename: Kike T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Adesina
authors.forename: Hadijat O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Raji
authors.forename: Abiodun P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Aboyeji
authors.forename: Abdulwaheed O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Olatinwo
authors.forename: Abiodun S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Adeniran
authors.forename: Idowu O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Adebara
authors.forename: Salamat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isiaka-Lawal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008423:Maternal Age; D009549:Nigeria; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult