Development and validation of a prediction model for intrapartum cesarean delivery based on the artificial neural networks approach: a protocol for a prospective nested case–control study

INTRODUCTION: Although intrapartum caesarean delivery can resolve dystocia, it would still lead to several adverse outcomes for mothers and children. The obstetric care professionals need effective tools that can help them to identify the possibility and risk factors of intrapartum caesarean delivery, and further implement interventions to avoid unnecessary caesarean birth. This study aims to develop a prediction model for intrapartum caesarean delivery with real-life data based on the artificial neural networks approach. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a prospective nested case–control design. Pregnant women who plan to deliver vaginally will be recruited in a tertiary hospital in Southwest China from March 2022 to March 2024. The clinical data of prelabour, intrapartum period and psychosocial information will be collected. The case group will be the women who finally have a baby with intrapartum caesarean deliveries, and the control group will be those who deliver a baby vaginally. An artificial neural networks approach with the backpropagation algorithm multilayer perceptron topology will be performed to construct the prediction model. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval for data collection was granted by the Ethics Committee of West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, and the ethical number is 2021 (204). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants and they can withdraw from the study at any time. The results of this study will be published in peer-review journal.