The association between maternal age and parity with prolonged labor: A literature review

Introduction: Labor and childbirth are essential parts of the human life cycle. When labor extends longer than expected, it’s referred to as prolonged labor, a complication that contributes to over 810 maternal deaths each year worldwide and accounts for over 69,000 cases annually. In fact, prolonged labor is the most frequently reported childbirth complication, occurring in 41% of cases. Past research has shown that a mother's age and the number of children she has (parity) can influence the risk of prolonged labor. More research is needed to understand better how these factors impact prolonged labor.
Method: This study is a literature review, drawing from sources in Google Scholar, PUBMED, and Science Direct, focusing on research published between 2019 and 2024. The study included only original research articles in English or Indonesian with all the required components.
Result and Discussion: From the literature search, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 7 studies found a strong correlation between maternal age and prolonged labor, while 2 found no correlation. Furthermore, 9 studies indicated a significant relationship between parity and prolonged labor, while 1 study described the characteristics of mothers who experienced prolonged labor.
Conclusion: In general, maternal age is related to the risk of prolonged labor, though a few studies showed no link. Parity is also significantly associated with prolonged labor.