History and Objectives: The effect of partogragh on the duration of labor and its outcome on controversial. Due to lack of comprehensive study on the usefulness of partogragh and its benefits in Iran, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of the partograghy on the duration of labor and outcome of pregnancy among first time pregnant females referred to the Tehran’s Mirza-Kockak-Khan hospital in 1997.

Materials and Methods: A clinical trial on 200 pregnant women was carried out. Half of the individuals were under direct supervision and partograghy was used. The other half was taken as control group. The effect of partograghy on the duration of labor, number vaginal examination, prolonged labor, obstructed labor, apgar score, fetal death, type of labor, uterine, oxytocin infusion, duration of oxytocin infusion and amniotic stage was determined. Statistical significance of the data was presented.

Results: In control and experimental group, mean age was 21.8±3 and duration of labor was 510.2±298 and 436±228 minutes respectively. Number of vaginal examination was 7 and 4.5 in control and experimental groups. Prolong labor was 26% and 10% and obstructed labor was 4% and 1% in control and experimental groups. Apgar score in the first minute in 99% of fetuses of the control mothers and 98% of fetuses on experimental mothers were 8 to 10. Fetal death and uterine was not observed in two groups. Four percent of labors in control and experimental (1% vacuum and 3% cesarean section) were abnormal. Oxytocin infusion was given to 545 of control and 15% of experimental group. Duration of oxytocin infusion was 268±142 and 233.6±110 minutes in control and experimental group respectively. Amniotomy was carried out in 38.9% of control and 5.8% of experimental group at first phase of labor.

Conclusion: Application of partograghy as a inexpensive and useful instrument and its utility in early decision making and referral of pregnant women is helpful. In addition, partogragh increases quality and management of labor.