It is a well established fact that the pain of labour can be excrutiating and ways to shorten the duration of labour has been sought after. this study compares the role of intramuscular tramadol and intravenous paracetamol in shortening the duration of labour

Background: The excruciating pain associated with labour as led to different studies aimed at finding pharmacolologic and non pharmacologic ways of shortening the duration of labour. Most agents used are either expensive or associated with fetomaternal adverse effects. This has led to the study of paracetamol and tramadol that have analgesic properties and have shown to have effect on labour duration.

Aim: To compare intravenous paracetamol versus intramuscular tramadol in shortening the duration of labour at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital and St Patrick's Mile 4 Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Methodology: It is an open label, non inferiority randomized controlled trial that was conducted on one hundred and eighty-nine parturients in active labour. Group A received 1000mg of intravenous paracetamol while Group B received 100mg of intramuscular tramadol and allocation was in the ratio of 1:1. Labour duration in the active phase was noted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Spontaneous active phase labour
• No contraindication to vaginal delivery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinical evidence of cephalopelvic disproportion
• Malpresentation,
• Multiple pregnancy,
• Previously scarred uterus,
• Preterm labour,
• Induced labour
• Antepartum hemorrhage.
• History of known allergy to tramadol and paracetamol or opioids or
• History of narcotics dependency.
• History of renal disease,
• Fetal distress
• Intrauterine fetal death.