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An Integrative Review
Jamie J. Borel
Honor Code “I have neither given nor received aid, other than acknowledged, on this assignment
The purpose of this integrative review is to determine if induction of labor is a greater risk factor
for cesarean section delivery among women of advanced maternal age (AMA) versus women of
normal maternal age. Women of AMA are more likely to have their labor induced to reduce the
risk of poor fetal outcomes; however, induction of labor is also thought to increase the risk for
cesarean section. With a push to decrease the number of cesarean sections performed, the link
between these variables must be studied. Databases such as EBSCOhost and PubMed were used
to locate research articles. While three articles supported the conclusion that AMA was a risk
factor for cesarean section following induction of labor, the other two articles found that there
was no increased risk for cesarean section among women of AMA. Limitations to the studies in
this review include the fact that most of the studies were retrospective, which can create gaps in
data and no way to control bias in the selection of data chosen. Another limitation to the
research reviewed is the inability to study all confounding factors which may increase a women’s
risk for cesarean section. The information concluded for these studies can be used in practice to
help inform women of AMA on the risks and benefits associated with induction of labor based
on their current health status. Recommendations for future research include more efficient ways
An Integrative Review
advanced maternal age (AMA) is a risk factor for cesarean section delivery outcomes. AMA is
defined as any women giving birth at the age of 35 or older. An increasing number of women
are giving birth later in life for several reasons including advancing careers and problems with
infertility. Whether the decision to have a baby later in life is made involuntarily or voluntary, it
should be noted that having children after 35 puts the mother and baby at increased risk for
adverse delivery outcomes. It is thought that women of AMA are more likely to delivery via
cesarean section. Cesarean sections increase the risk for intrapartum and postpartum
complications for the mother and newborn. For this reason, the goal is to reduce the number of
cesarean sections performed. Research suggests that AMA also puts the neonate at increased
risk for stillbirth. To decrease the risk of stillbirth, it has been found that induction of labor
decreases this risk when performed at term gestation (Dunn, Kumar, & Wong, 2017). Although
the risk of stillbirth is reduced, it is known that “induction increases the risk of medical
intervention, analgesia, episiotomy, vacuum extraction, and the possibility of cesarean section”
(Rijal, 2014). The purpose of this integrative review is to compile relevant literature to answer
the researcher’s PICO question, does induction of labor in women of advanced maternal age,
increase the risk of cesarean section versus women of normal maternal age?
The research design is an integrative review. EBSCOhost and PubMed were the search
engines used to compile research articles for this review. Search words used to locate articles
related to the researcher’s topic included, ‘cesarean delivery’, ‘induction of labor’, ‘advanced
maternal age’, ‘risk factors’, ‘randomized trial’, and ‘delivery outcomes.’ Using these keywords,
AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW 4
the search yielded 79 research articles which indicated that there was adequate research to further
explore this topic. In an effort to compile the most recent and reliable research on this topic, the
search was limited to peer-reviewed, full-text articles published in English between 2013 and
2018. The research articles chosen were also limited to quantitative and qualitative research
studies. All of the articles chosen were relevant to the researcher’s PICO question, “Does
induction of labor of women of advanced maternal age increase the risk for cesarean section,
compared to women of normal maternal age?” The following inclusion criteria were used to
select five quantitative articles used in this research: advanced maternal age, cesarean section
delivery outcomes, and induction of labor. Exclusion criteria included any meta-analysis,
systemic review, or articles that did not relate to the PICO question as previously defined.
The results of these five research studies varied in their findings determining the link
between induction of labor among women of AMA and the delivery outcome of cesarean
section. Although all studies did indicate that induction of labor was an independent risk factor
for cesarean section, there was not consensus among whether AMA was a contributing factor,
(Dunn, Kumar, & Beckmann, 2017; Islam & Bakheit, 2014; Muto et al., 2017; Rijal, 2014;
Walker et al., 2016). A synopsis of the research reviewed can be found in the Appendix where
each article is summarized into separate tables. The researcher framed the review according to
Maternal Complications
Three of the five articles reviewed conclude that there are additional maternal risk
factors, beyond AMA, that increase a women’s risk for cesarean section following induction of
labor (Islam & Bakheit, 2014; Muto et al., 2017; Rijal, 2014). The quantitative retrospective
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study by Islam & Bahkeit (2014) was a population-based study performed in Oman, to address
the increasing number of women waiting until later in life to have children and what impact that
is having on their pregnancy outcomes in a country where technology and medicine are not as
advanced as other countries. The aim of the study was to determine risk factors of AMA patients
for adverse obstetric outcomes during delivery, while controlling the effects of potentially
confounding factors. A stratified sample of 2,037 Omani women were chosen and placed into
two groups based on maternal age: ages 20 to 34 and ages 35 and older. Twenty-five teams were
assembled, including a female health educator, registered nurse (RN), lab tech, health inspector,
and field supervisor were sent into the community to visit each household. A household
questionnaire were administered, and the participants were instructed to follow-up at a healthcare
clinic for a full-exam. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. Chi-square analysis
testing was performed to find associations between categorical variables and student’s t-test was
used for comparing means between the two groups. Bivariate analysis was used as a first step to
analysis was needed to identify which factors were independently associated with adverse
obstetric outcomes while controlling for potential confounding factors. Statistically significant
factors for adverse obstetric outcomes such as cesarean section was found to be AMA, in
The quantitative retrospective cohort study by Muto et al., (2017) acknowledged that
AMA has been considered a significant risk factor for cesarean section delivery; however, these
studies didn’t discuss other antepartum and intrapartum factors that may play a role in increasing
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this risk. The aim of this study was to determine which risk factors were most highly associated
with AMA women delivery via cesarean section. A sample of 935 nulliparous women at full
term, at least 37 weeks’ gestation, were selected retrospectively from databases of Osaka
Women’s and Children Hospital in Japan. Data was collected from the participants medical
records from baseline characteristics throughout the postpartum period. Data analyzed included
maternal age, gestational week at delivery, assisted reproductive technology, maternal height and
maternal body mass index. Additional data collected included indications for emergency
cesarean section such as arrest of labor, non-reassuring fetal status, and maternal complications
including, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus. The data
was analyzed using JMP version 10 software. Statistical analysis was done through chi-square
tests, multivariate logistic regression analysis and decision-making tree analysis. It was found
that 21% of nulliparous women of AMA delivered via emergency cesarean section; however,
when induction of labor was performed that statistic jumped to 43%. When a woman of AMA
was induced with gestational hypertension, the chances of cesarean delivery was at 56.7% which
is a significant finding.
identify what the risk factors were for cesarean section following induction of labor, since it is
one of the most common procedures in obstetrics. A sample of 348 participants were chosen
from the database of the Obstetrics Unit of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences. Data was
collected during the pre-induction phase, one-hour post induction, and the fetal heart rate data
was collected every 30 minutes during the latent and active phases of labor. Data collected
included pre-induction Bishop’s score, the number of Misoprostol doses administered, oxytocin
augmentation, obesity, maternal age, parity, meconium presence in the amniotic fluid,
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hypertension, prolonged latent and/or active phase, and newborn birth weight. The data was
analyzed using SPSS software. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis was used to
assess significant variables contributing to cesarean section. Significant findings suggested that
AMA is not an independent risk factor; however, Bishop’s scores less than five, multiple doses
of Misoprostol, prolonged latent and active labor, oxytocin augmentation, meconium presence in
the amniotic fluid and large birthweight were all risk factors for cesarean section following
induction of labor.
Neonate Complications
Two of the articles chosen for review looked at the risk for cesarean section following
induction in mothers of AMA because with this age group, induction of labor at term (37 weeks
gestation) is indicated for lowering the risk of stillbirth of the neonate (Dunn, Kumar, &
Beckmann, 2017; Walker et al., 2016). The quantitative retrospective cohort study conducted by
Dunn, Kumar, & Beckmann (2017) sought to find out if AMA was a risk factor for emergency
cesarean section following induction of labor because many clinicians recommend induction of
labor for this population. The study sample included 7,459 records from the Mater Mother’s
Hospital’s obstetric database MatriX. Data was collected during the prenatal, intrapartum, and
postpartum phases of delivery. The researchers collected data regarding maternal age, body
mass index, parity, gestational age at time of induction, Bishop’s score, and induction of labor
indication and method. Other variables considered were mode of delivery, indication of cesarean
birthweight, APGAR, and neonatal resuscitation. Data was analyzed using StataSE 13.0.
Outcomes were compared using the Parson’s x2 test and student’s T-test. Significant findings
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concluded that AMA was independently associated with a two-fold increase in likelihood of
The randomized-controlled trial study done by Walker et al., (2016) was a quantitative
study conducted across 38 National Health Service hospitals and one primary care trust
organization in the United Kingdom. This study was conducted because of increased stillbirth
rates among women of advanced maternal age. Induction of labor is indicated in many instances
to avoid this risk, so the aim of the study was to determine delivery outcomes for mothers of
sample of 619 women, 35 years of age and older, were divided into two groups: 305 women
assigned to the induction of labor group and 314 were assigned to expectant management. Data
was collected immediately after discharge by the research midwife at each facility. The mother’s
expectations and experience were measured by a questionnaire using a 0-4 scale. Data collected
included method of delivery, indication for cesarean section, epidural use, gestational age at
delivery, maternal complications, live born infants, deaths, gender, birthweight, APGAR scores,
neonatal intensive care admission, newborn complications, and required interventions. All
analysis were performed using Stata software, version 13. Primary delivery outcomes were
measured using a generalized linear model and a multinomial logistic regression model to
calculate relative risks for mode of delivery. A generalized linear model was used to analyze
maternal and neonatal complications. Finally, a complete case analysis was used to analyze the
women’s experience and expectations of childbirth. It was determined that in women of AMA,
there was no significant increase in risk of cesarean section following induction of labor versus
Each of the five articles chosen for this integrative review address the effects of AMA
and delivery outcomes. Each of the articles reviewed take on a different aspect of the
connections between women of AMA, induction of labor, and cesarean section delivery. The
study by Dunn, Kumar, & Beckmann (2017) concluded that “advanced maternal age is
associated with an increased likelihood of cesarean section among women whose labors are
induced; however overall the majority of advanced maternal age women achieved a vaginal birth
following induction of labor”. The study conducted by Islam & Bakheit (2014) determined that
AMA is a risk factor for cesarean delivery and also a risk factor for other adverse obstetric
prolonged labor. Because this study was done in a less developed country and was population-
based, rather than hospital-based, induction of labor was not evaluated; however, the correlation
between maternal age and cesarean section should still be considered. The study done by Muto et
al. (2017), concluded that induction of labor is a significant risk factor for emergency cesarean
section among women of AMA and the risk is even higher among those with gestational
hypertension. The prospective observational study conducted by Rijal (2104) found that in
isolation, AMA was not a risk factor for cesarean section following induction of labor. Finally,
the randomized-controlled trial performed by Walker et al., (2016) concluded that induction of
labor among women of AMA did not have an increased risk of cesarean section when compared
to women of AMA who underwent expectant management of delivery. Although this study did
not compare the results to women of normal maternal age, the findings are still relevant to the
With the increasing number of women giving birth at AMA, and the increase in cesarean
sections being performed, these study findings can be used by healthcare providers to educate
women on the benefits and risks associated with induction of labor after the age of 35 (Dunn,
Kumar, & Beckmann, 2017; Islam & Bakheit, 2014). In addition to education, Muto et al.
(2017) suggests that clinicians use this information to initiate studies to find more efficient ways
to induce labor in women of AMA so that the cesarean section rates can be decreased.
Additional recommendations for future research are more studies aimed at directly comparing
delivery outcomes following induction of labor in women of AMA versus women of normal
maternal age.
Limitations
Limitations to this integrated review include the limited number of articles reviewed.
Only five articles were chosen, and they were limited to the last five years of research so the
review was not exhaustive. The researcher also has limited research experience as a full-time
understanding of the research topic being reviewed. General limitations to the research include
retrospective data collection being incomplete with variations in practice. Another limitation is
that all confounding factors for increasing risk of caesarean section were not accounted for, so
bias could have been introduced based on the majority of the studies implementing convenience
Conclusion
The findings of this integrative review indicate that while there is a link between
induction of labor and cesarean section, there is no consensus indicating that AMA following
induction of labor is an independent risk factor for cesarean section. It was found that women of
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AMA are more likely to have maternal complications that may increase the likelihood of a
cesarean section, versus mothers of normal maternal age. Although all of the articles reviewed
take on different aspects of the PICO question, because of the limitations and the lack of
consensus among the research reviewed, there is not sufficient evidence to fully evaluate the
References
Dunn, L., Kumar, S., & Beckmann, M. (2017). Maternal age is a risk factor for cesarean section
following induction of labour. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and
Fineout-Overholt, E., Melnyk, B. M., Stillwell, S. B., & Williamson, K. M. (2010). Critical
Fineout-Overholt, E., Melnyk, B. M., Stillwell, S. B., & Williamson, K. M. (2010). Critical
appraisal of the evidence: Part II. American Journal of Nursing, 110(9), 41-48.
Islam, M. M., & Bakheit, C. S. (2014). Advanced maternal age and risks for adverse pregnancy
Muto, H., Ishii, K., Nakano, T., Hayashi, S., Okamoto, Y., & Mitsuda, N. (2017). Rate of
intrapartum cesarean section and related factors in older nulliparous women at term.
Rijal, P. (2014). Identification of risk factors for cesarean delivery following induction of labour.
Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 12(27), 2nd ser., 73-77. Retrieved February
21, 2018.
Ryan, F., Coughlan, M., & Cronin, P. (2007). Step-by-step guide to critiquing research. Part 2:
doi:10.12968/bjon.2007.16.12.23726
Walker, K. F., Bugg, G. J., Macpherson, M., McCormick, C., Grace, N., Wildsmith, C.,
…Thornton, J.G. (2016). Randomized trial of labor induction in women 35 years of age
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doi:10.1056/NEJMoal509117
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Appendix