Critical Care Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

Background: Episiotomy means simply a 2nd degree tear to enlarge outlet, for expulsion of the fetus with tolerable damage or injury. Historically, episiotomy has been an element of vaginal delivery, with the rationale of preventing extensive perennial tearing. Incidence varies according to parity, patient population, indication, and health care provider practicing obstetrics. Study findings showed that higher rate of episiotomy in Ethiopia.

Objective: To assess the proportion of episiotomy performance and its associated factors in Axum town public health institutions 2015.

Methods: Facility based cross- sectional study design was employed in three Public health institutions in Axum town, Tigray, Ethiopia 2015. Information was retrieved retrospectively from a total of 338 maternal charts that were selected using systematic random sampling technique. The data were collected using pre-tested and structured data extraction format. Using SPSS version 20 software, descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done and during bivariate logistic regression analysis those variables at p-value <0.2 was transferred to multivariate logistic regression analysis and during Multivariate logistic regression analysis Variables at P-value <0.05 were considered as statistically significant and AOR with 95% CI was used to control for possible confounders and to interpret the result. The result is summarized using tables, graphs and charts for different variables.

Results: Out of 338 deliveries the proportion of episiotomy was 140(41.44%).The odds of episiotomy practice were 1.8 times greater among primipara when compared with multiparous women [AOR=1.89(1.08, 3.23)], 8.9 times greater among mothers whose labor were assisted by vacuum as compared to those who delivered by normal vaginal delivery [AOR=8.99(4.25, 19.03) ], 4.7 times greater among deliveries whose fetal presentation was face when compared with vertex presentations [AOR=4.76(1.94, 11.67)].

Conclusion: The proportion of episiotomy practice is high. Parity, face presentation, mode of delivery, Birth Attendant and 1st minute Apgar score were significantly associated with practice of episiotomy.

Keywords

Episiotomy; Associated factors; Proportion

Introduction

Episiotomy means simply a 2nd degree tear to enlarge the outlet, for expulsion of the fetus with tolerable damage or injury. Historically, episiotomy has been an element of vaginal delivery, with the rationale of preventing extensive perennial tearing extending to include the involvement of the anal sphincter and damage to the pelvic floor. Episiotomy was originally recommended to help in labor and deliveries and its routine performance began to be defined by Pomeroy in 1918. During many years this routine practice was accepted and taught as an absolute truth in big obstetrics services, although not based on well conducted and controlled studies. Episiotomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide, performed in 30-63% of all deliveries and, in some regions, in up to 93% of nulliparous women [1].

Like other procedures episiotomy has its own indications among these some are to shorten birth of a distressed baby, for instrumental breech delivery, to protect premature head from birth injury & prevent third degree tears [2-5].Incidence varies according to parity, patient population, indication, and health care provider practicing obstetrics. In 2000, Robinson and associates found Practice of Episiotomy (21%), (33%) and (55%) among Midwives, Medical school faculty and Private practice providers [5]. Evidences from previous studies have indicated that the routine use of episiotomy may do more harm than benefit [6]. The restrictive versus routine use of episiotomy is associated with a lower risk of posterior perennial trauma, need for suturing perennial trauma, and healing complications at seven days [7]. It also has beneficial effects on reducing longterm complications [8]. A prospective cross sectional study done in Canada Toronto revealed that episiotomy was associated with more pain, excessive bleeding, wound hematoma, infection and breakdown [2].

Nonetheless, episiotomy which is essentially a surgical procedure is generally associated with complications, some of which include pain, hemorrhage, and local anesthetic toxicity, wound infection and wound breakdown [9]. The occurrence of these complications may be influenced by the skill and experience of the attending physician. Episiotomy also interferes with the mother’s comfort during the postpartum period. These morbidities may have a profound impact on a woman’s recovery in the puerperium, and on subsequent health and psychological wellbeing.

Methodology

Study design

Institutional based cross-sectional study design was employed to collect information on the performance of episiotomy retrospectively in 3 public health institution of axum town north Ethiopia.

Study area and period

The study was conducted from October 12-31-2015 in 3 public health institutions of Axum town. It is the most wellknown of North Tigray for its rich temples and obelisks. It is located at a distance of around 1004 kilometers from Addis Ababa in north direction and around 248 kilometers from Mekelle the capital city of the Tigray region. Based on central statistics agency as of July the town has total population of 56576 of this there are a total of 30293 females and 26,283 males [10-13]. Among this 1530 women gave birth during the study period, from January to June 2015.In the town there are 79 skilled birth attendants and 1 public hospital, 2 health centers, 3 private clinics which provides a maternal and neonatal health services so the study was conducted in those three public health institutions namely St. Mary hospital, Axum health center and millennium health center (Figures 1-4).

Target population

All deliveries in Axum town public health institutions.

Source population

All delivery charts from January-June2015.

Study population

Sampled delivery charts selected based on inclusion criteria.

Study unit

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: All vaginal deliveries.

Exclusion criteria: Incompletely documented charts, cesarean delivery.

Sample size, sampling technique and sampling procedure

Sample size: The sample size for proportion of episiotomy was determined by using single population proportion formula using a basic assumption of 95% confidence level, 5% margin of error andproportion (P as 50%) and using the formula,

Since the source of population is <10,000 by using correction formula

nf=ni/1+ni/N= 306.9=307 then adding 10% contingency ~31 finally we got 338

nf=338 and pretest=10%=33.8 ~ 34 charts

Assumptions;

ni=initial sample size ; 384

nf=Final sample size

Z=confidence level which were 95%

P=proportion50%

d=the margin of error were taken as 5%

N=total number of deliveries in the town for the study time=1530

Sampling technique: Systematic sampling technique was used to select the study subjects then calculating K for each gave us around 4.

Sampling procedure: First by calculating the total number of deliveries conducted during the study period in the public health institutions (for the 6 months there was a total of 1530) found in the town then allocating proportionally to the public health institutions based on the number of deliveries.

Data collection procedure: By using proportional allocation and based on the systematic sampling procedure a total of 338 charts were selected from 1530 delivery charts from January to June 2015. The data were collected retrospectively by reviewing maternal charts using a checklist which was developed from different literatures addressing the socio demographics, obstetrics, labor and delivery and post natal characteristics. There were 5 data collectors all BSc. health professionals and have been paid per questioner. In addition 3 MSc. midwives gave the data collectors a one day discussion about the questionnaire and how to use it to collect the data.

Data quality control: Data quality was ensured during collection, coding, entry and analysis. To increase the quality of data during data collection three teams namely data collectors, supervisors and investigators was assigned and properly designed, structured and pretested data extraction format was used. Training was given to the data collectors and supervisors to prevent any confusion and have a common understanding about the tool. Each card was checked for its consistency, provision of full information and appropriate documentation. Supervision of data collectors were conducted by supervisors and include observation of how the data collectors were collecting data.

The data collectors were instructed to write card number on the data extraction format during the data collection so that any identified errors were traced back using the card number. The filled data extraction format was checked by data collectors, supervisors and Principal Investigators for completeness and clarity on a daily basis.

Data processing and analysis: The entire returned data extraction format were checked for completeness and clarity, cleaned manually, coded and entered in to SPSS version 20 statistical package to be cleaned, edited and analyzed by the principal investigator for further analysis. Frequencies and Percentage was used to summarize descriptive statistics, tables and charts were used for data presentation. Logistic regression model was used and bivariate logistic regression was done to determine association between each independent variable with dependent variable. Variables with P- value <0.2 in bivariate analysis were entered in to next multivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were done to determine relative prediction level of independent variables to the outcome variable. Variables having p-value <0.05 were considered as statistically significant and AOR with 95% CI was used to control for possible confounders and to interpret the result.

Ethical consideration: After approval of the document by Mekelle university collage of health sciences institutional review board then the ethical approval and official letter was obtained from, Mekelle university collage of health sciences institutional review board. Permissions was obtained from Axum town health bureau. A letter was then sent to the study health institutions and permission was obtained to proceed with the study. There was no personal identifier attached during data retrieval. There was no intention to collect any additional information from the institution and there were no risks that follow with participation in this research.

During the study the institution had full right to withhold information, skip questions or to withdraw from the study at any time. Nobody needed to explain the reason for withdrawal. It is also explained that there would be no effect at all in the benefit or other administrative effect that the institution would get from their refusal to participate.

Dissemination of results: The findings of the study will be will be presented and submitted to Mekelle University Collage of Health Sciences Department of Midwifery to serve as reference materials for subsequent studies and teaching purposes.

The research finding will also be submitted to the Tigray regional health bureau and the specified health institutions. Efforts will also be done to publish in peer reviewed journals to make it accessible for all interested in the programmatic and research aspects of the proportion of episiotomy and associated factors. It will also be presented in scientific conferences.

Results

Socio-demographic characteristics

Out of the 338 maternal charts reviewed the majority 209(61.8%) of the mothers who gave birth were in the age group19-26years, 98(29%) of were in the age group of 27-34 and 31(9.2%) were in the group of 35-42 years. The mean age of the mothers was 25+5.1 years with the maximum of 42 years and minimum of 19 years.

Labor and delivery characteristics

Out of 338maternal delivery charts reviewed 195(57.7%) were primipara, out of this 78 had one pervious c/s delivery, and 304(89.9%) deliveries were term and 221(65.4%) of them have history of previously delivery (Table 1).

Table 1: Distribution of Deliveries by their Obstetric characteristics Axum town North Ethiopia 2015 (n=338).

Regarding Duration of 2^nd stage of Labor Majority 178(52.7%) of the labors 2^nd stage of Labor stayed <30 minutes, 134(39.6%) stayed 30 minut-60 minutes and 26(7.71%) Stayed >60 Minutes and the mean duration of 2^nd stage of labor was 37+21.34 minutes and are in the range of maximum of 100 minutes and minimum of 5 Minutes. Out of 338maternal charts reviewed in the public health institution 255(75.4%) of the fetal presentation were Vertex, 51(15.1%) were breech, and 32(9.5%) were Face. From a total of 338 charts reviewed 242(71.6%) were with normal condition of FHB, and 96(28.4%) were with abnormal fetal heart beat status (57(16.9%) Brady cardiac and 39(11.5%) were with tachycardia).

Out of three hundred thirty eight delivery charts, 82(24.3%) had meconium in the amniotic fluid evidenced during labor and delivery at the time of vaginal examination. The proportion episiotomy was 41.4%.Two hundred two (59.8%) births were conducted during the night time, and 183(54.1%) of the deliveries were normal vaginal delivery, 61(18%) of them were assisted by vaccum and 94(27.8%) were assisted by forceps.

Post natal characteristics

Out of three hundred thirty eight delivery charts reviewed the birth weight of three hundred one (89.1%) of the neonates were within normal birth weight ranging from 2.50 kg to 3.99 kg and two hundred forty five (72.5%) had 1^st minute Apgar score of >7 minutes.

Factors associated with episiotomy

It was observed that presence of meconium, neonatal weight, parity, fetal presentation, mode of delivery; birth attendant and 1^st minute Apgar score were significantly associated with performance of episiotomy practice during bivariate analysis and transferred to multivariate analysis and presence of meconium, neonatal weight have found to be statistically insignificant during multivariate analysis but parity, face presentation, mode of delivery, birth attendant and 1st minute Apgar score were statistically significantly associated with practice of episiotomy after multivariate analysis (Table 2).

Table 2: Logistic regression analysis of factors associated with episiotomy.

The odds of episiotomy practice were 1.8 times greater among pimipara when compared with multiparous women [AOR=1.86(1.08, 3.23)].

From 338 charts episiotomy practice was 4.7 times greater among deliveries whose fetal presentation was Face when compared with vertex presentations [AOR=4.76(1.94, 11.67)].

Episiotomy practice were 8.9 times greater among those whose labor were assisted by vacuum as compared to those who delivered by NVD[AOR=8.99(4.25, 19.03)]. Similarly, the odds of episiotomy practice was almost 3.4 times greater among whose labor were assisted by forceps as compared to those who delivered by NVD [AOR=3.49(1.84, 6.59)].

The odds of episiotomy practice was almost 3.4 times greater among integrated emergency surgery and obstetric care students than midwives [AOR=3.44(1.22, 9.72)].

The practice of episiotomy was almost 5.1 times greater among those deliveries with low Apgar score than compared to those with normal Apgar score [AOR=5.11(2.80, 9.33)].

Discussion

The present study attempted to assess proportion of episiotomy practice and associated factors at public health institutions of Axum town.

The study indicated that proportion of episiotomy practice in the institution was found to be 41.44% which was almost 1.2 times higher than the recommendation of World Health Organization [14]. The result of this study was very close to the previous studies done at Black Lion hospital, and Brigham Hospital Boston Massachusetts which has found that the prevalence of episiotomy was 40.2%and 40.6% respectively [5,10].

This study has found a higher prevalence of episiotomy compared to a study done at Jimma teaching Hospital, Mizan Aman General Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria and Pernambuco Brazil where the prevalence of episiotomy was 25% and 30.6%, 35.6% and 29.1% respectively [15-17]. This higher result may be due to fact that this study has assessed the prevalence of episiotomy in three institution, high prevalence of instrumental delivery in the study area, because most of the mothers who gave birth was primi so they may perform episiotomy for most of the primi mothers by referring to the previous guidelines, the institution is serving as teaching institution for 3 universities intigray region including both the undergraduate and post graduate students of health sciences, inappropriate documentation meaning the health professional may document the tear as episiotomy after repairing it, and the health professionals perception about routine use of episiotomy and may be due to the country policies towards the selective use of episiotomy. Since 2002 selective episiotomy became normal at the Professor Monteiro de Moraes maternity center in Recife, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, and indicated in pregnant patients with acute fetal distress and inadequate progress of labor [16].

But it is slightly lower than the finding in Lagos (54.9%), Abia (45%) and Enugu (62.1%). All in Nigeria and in Benin (46.6%) [9,11,24,28], respectively. The differences can be explained by the time difference, which may suggest a moderate reduction probably due to the increased emphasis on the restrictive use of episiotomy at the institution in line with evidence based recommendations and an increment of quality of service and upgrading the service providers through pre-service and inservice training.

However it is still far higher than recommended by the World Health Organization which is 10%-30% [14].

Most of the Factors associated with episiotomy among laboring mothers are similar to other studies done in Addis Ababa, Jimma, Mizan- Aman and Ogbomosho Nigeria, [10,15,18].

The odds of episiotomy practice were 1.8 times greater among primipara when compared with multiparous women [AOR=1.89(1.08, 3.23)].this result is consistent with the study done in Ogbomosho, Zaria all in Nigeria which states that a high association of primi parity with performance of episiotomy [17,18]. The justifications for this high episiotomy index are not clear yet but the old recommendation of routine episiotomy in primiparous patients performed by many health Professionals, might still have an influence in the indication of this procedures for these patients [19-25].

From 338charts the episiotomy practice were 4.7 times greater among deliveries whose fetal presentation was face when compared with vertex presentations [AOR=4.76(1.94, 11.67)]. This result is consistent with a prospective cohort s study done in Zaria Nigeria [17]. A significant association of episiotomies with the fetal mal-presentation is not unexpected as it is the routine in this center to perform episiotomies during instrumental and difficult deliveries, as it is the practice in other centers [26-29].

Episiotomy practice was 8.9 times greater among whose labor were assisted by vacuum as compared to those who delivered by normal vaginal delivery [AOR=8.99(4.25, 19.03)]. Similarly, the odds of episiotomy practice was 3.4 times greater among whose labor was assisted by forceps as compared to those who delivered by NVD [AOR=3.49(1.84, 6.59)]. This result is consistent with the study done in Black Lion Teaching Hospital, Zaria Nigeria, Ogbomoso Nigeria, Brazil, and Brigham Hospital Boston Massachusetts [5,10,16,17,18].

The odds of episiotomy practice was almost 3.4 times greater among integrated emergency surgery and obstetric care students than midwives [AOR=3.44(1.22, 9.7)]. This is consistent with a study done in Oman which revealed that the odds of episiotomy practice were almost 2.26 times higher in bachelor holders than diploma holders [30]. This may be due to most of the complicated deliveries in this center are conducted by Senior health professionals.

Episiotomy practice was 5.1 times greater among those deliveries who had low Apgar score than those with normal Apgar score [AOR=5.11(2.80, 9.33)]. This finding is consistent with the study done at Petrolane, Brazil which found practice of episiotomy on newborns with lower Apgar index were nearly twice as likely to occur in episiotomy [31].

Strength and Limitations of the Study

Strength of the study

This study was conducted in health institutions that are owned by Public that will make it more representative.

Limitations of the study

Other variables pertinent to the theme, indication s for episiotomy performance presence of medical or obstetrical complications were not assessed due to poor documentation. The Cross sectional nature of the study is not able to assess some variables like factors related to later period of birth like post-operative outcome.

Conclusions

The proportion of episiotomy practice in Axum town Public health institutions is high. Practice of episiotomy found to have statistically significant association with: parity, face presentation, mode of delivery, birth attendant and 1st minute Apgar score.

The possible reasons that make the proportion of episiotomy high: high prevalence of instrumental delivery in the study area, because most of the mothers who gave birth was primi so they may perform episiotomy for most of the primi mothers by referring to the previous guidelines, the institution is serving as teaching institution for 3 universities in tigray region including both the undergraduate and post graduate students of health sciences,, and the health professionals perception about routine use of episiotomy.

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