Retrospective analysis of episiotomy prevalence

OBJECTIVE This study was performed to determine the rate of episiotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective was conducted in 3 state hospitals located in 3 cities in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. Ethics committee approval was received for this study. Also, institutional permissions from the institutions where the study was conducted were obtained before the study. The sample of the study consisted of 8587 women. The data of the study were collected by analyzing birth records in archive records. RESULTS The average age of the women was 26.16±5.9 years, the average number of deliveries was 2.19±1.2, and 52.0% of the women who gave birth via vaginal delivery underwent episiotomy. The rate of episiotomy was found to be 93.3% in primipara women and 30.2% in multipara women. It was determined that neonatal weight did not affect the episiotomy rate, and that neonatal height was higher in deliveries with episiotomy and suture. Also, it was determined that as the age and parity of the women decreased, the rate of episiotomy increased. CONCLUSION The rate of episiotomy was observed to be high, especially in primipara women.