Morvarid Irani - PhD Student of Reproductive Health, Students Research Committee, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Masoumeh Kordi - Associate Professor of Reproductive Health ,Evidence-Based Care Research Centre, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Introduction: Purple line is one of the non-invasive methods to assess the progress of labor. Therefore, the aim of this study was what percentage of women the presence or absence of a purple line was present and determined relationship between the length and width of the purple line and descent of the fetal head in Iranian women.Methods: This Longitudinal observational study was performed on 350 women during the active phase of labor in the maternity ward of Omolbanin Hospital, Mashhad, from April to August 2012. We assessed the relationship between length and width of the purple line and fetal head descent. Women were examined in the lateral position and researcher recorded the presence or absence of the line before each vaginal examination. Where present the length and width of the line was measured using a disposable tape measure.Results: The purple line appeared in 75.3% of 350 women during the active phase of labor. There was a positive correlation between length of the purple line and station of the fetal head (r = +0.29, P=0.001). There was also a medium positive correlation between width of the purple line and the station of the fetal head (r = +0.71, P<-0.001).Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between purple line and station of the fetal head. Where the purple line is present, measurement of it may reduce the number of vaginal examinations, especially when the single aim is to measure station of the fetal head. Further research is needed to confirm the current finding in other races.

fetal head station, Length of purple line, width of purple line, active phase of labor, vaginal examinations