Comprehensive Classification of Fetal Health Using Cardiotocogram Data Based on Machine Learning

Abstract

In the realm of obstetrics, the evaluation of fetal health remains a paramount yet challenging endeavor. Traditional approaches, such as electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), despite their widespread adoption, continue to grapple with uncertainties regarding their impact on neonatal outcomes and the reduction of emergency cesarean deliveries. This ambiguity is compounded by a prevailing confusion within the obstetric community about interpreting fetal heart rate patterns, often leading to inconsistent and subjective assessments. Addressing these complexities, our study presents an innovative machine learning-based techniques for the comprehensive classification of fetal health using cardiotocogram (CTG) data, offering a more objective and nuanced alternative to conventional methods. The core of our proposed solution is a novel model employing a sophisticated ensemble of machine learning classifiers, including Multi-Support Vector Machine (Multi-SVM), Decision Tree, Random Forest with Hyperparameter Tuning, XGBoost, and Neural Networks. This model is unique in its application, processing datasets in four different forms: raw datasets, datasets processed with MinMaxScaler, datasets subjected to feature selection using SelectKBest, and a combination of MinMaxScaler processing and SelectKBest feature selection. Such meticulous preprocessing, encompassing normalization and feature selection, is pivotal in ensuring equitable contribution from each feature, thereby optimizing the model's learning process and predictive accuracy. The effectiveness of our model is rigorously evaluated using a dataset comprising 2126 individual records from CTG exams, classified by specialist obstetricians into three types: Normal, Suspect, and Pathological. These records are exhaustively analyzed using various metrics, including Accuracy, Precision, Recall, F1-Score, ROC AUC, and Confusion Matrix. Among the classifiers, XGBoost emerged as the most proficient, consistently outperforming others across multiple metrics. This indicates its superior ability to accurately identify and categorize the different states of fetal health. Our findings thus underscore the significant promise of machine learning in revolutionizing fetal health monitoring, offering a more reliable, objective, and comprehensive method for assessing fetal well-being, with profound implications for prenatal care and clinical decision-making.