Biophysical profile score in late pregnancy and timing of delivery

Objective : To determine if the Biophysical Profile Score (BPS) as a screening procedure on patients without antenatal care (unbooked patients), seen in late pregnancy, is of value in providing an insight into the mode of delivery and fetal outcome. Design : Prospective case study of pregnant mothers, data collection and analysis over 2 years at Abha Maternity Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Subjects : Unbooked patients with abnormal BPS (Group I), and patients with normal BPS (Group II) used as control subjects, delivered in the hospital from January 1996 through December 1997. Results : The number of normal deliveries was significantly higher ( P <0.01) in the control group than in the study group patients. Cesarean section rate was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group ( P <0.01, OR=4.48). There was a significant increase in the number of asphyxiated and meconium aspirated babies in the study group than in the control group. Neonates that needed mechanical ventilation were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group ( P <0.01, OR=10.38). Conclusion : These findings suggest that abnormal BPS is invaluable in effecting delivery, particularly in women without antenatal care, who present in late pregnancy to an obstetric unit. Patients with abnormal BPS are four times more likely to be delivered by cesarean section than those with normal BPS.