Frequency of Perineal Tear in Primigravida Delivered Without Episiotomy at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of perineal tear in primigravida women delivered without episiotomy.

Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Nishtar Hospital Multan from 1^st November 2019 to 10^th April 2020. A total of 194 primigravida women, singleton pregnancy, gestational age at 37-42 weeks, vertex presentation, occiptoanterior position and vaginal birth (Spontaneous/Induced) were included. Women were evaluated after admission and basic demographics data like age, weight and BMI (kg/m²) were recorded. Demographic characteristics of the patients along with frequency of Perineal tear after vaginal delivery were noted. A post-stratification chi-square test was applied, considering p ≤0.05 as significant.

Results: The mean age was 26.391±4.22 years, mean gestational age 39.015±1.54 weeks, mean weight 70.933±12.99 Kg, mean height was 1.5460.092 meters, mean BMI 29.708±5.05 Kg/m2 and mean infant head size was 34.087±0.83 cm.  The majority of the patients, 100 (51.5%), belonged to 18-25 years age group. Short perineal body was seen in 132 (68.0%) patients. Perineal Tear was seen in 46 (23.7%) patients.

Conclusion: High frequency of perineal tear in primigravida women delivered without episiotomy was noted in our study. Perineal tear was significantly associated with increasing size of fetal head.