Navigating failed induction of labor within maternity care systems: a qualitative study of women’s experiences and healthcare professionals’ perspectives
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Induction of labor is one of the most common obstetric interventions worldwide, yet some inductions do not result in vaginal birth. While clinical predictors and outcomes of failed induction have been extensively investigated, less is known about how this experience affects women and healthcare professionals. Understanding these experiences is essential for improving woman-centered care, shared decision-making, and the quality of maternity services. Methods This constructivist qualitative study was conducted in a tertiary Grade A maternal and child health hospital in Chongqing, southwest China, with over 21,000 annual deliveries. Twelve women who experienced failed induction of labor, five obstetricians and nine midwives were purposively sampled. Semi-structured interviews (median 32 min; range 15–48 min) were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed in Mandarin using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis in NVivo 12 Pro. Exemplar quotations were translated into English using forward-and-backward translation. Reporting followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. Results Three interrelated themes emerged. First, information vacuum and disempowered decision-making: women entered induction with limited professional preparation and relied on fragmented lay narratives, leading to either over-optimism or the belief that most inductions end in cesarean; conversion to cesarean was often perceived as notification rather than shared decision-making. Second, pain-dominated physical and psychological trauma: severe, unpredictable pain, threshold-based analgesia and prolonged uncertainty generated a trajectory from hope to disappointment, collapse and ambivalent relief, and reshaped some women’s attitudes toward future labor. Third, systemic gaps and care dilemmas: fragmented processes, subjective assessments, medico-legal pressure and heavy workloads displaced relational care, leaving women insufficiently empowered and professionals insufficiently enabled to provide continuous, compassionate support. Conclusion Failed induction of labor was experienced not merely as an unsuccessful procedure but as a prolonged relational care trajectory shaped by information gaps, pain, uncertainty, distress and organizational constraints. Improving care requires staged antenatal and intrapartum information, proactive pain and emotional support, clearer communication at decision points, and organizational mechanisms that enable safe, consistent and compassionate care.
Source: Frontiers in Public Health
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7225650982