PREVALENCE OF EPISIOTOMY & FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PRACTICE OF EPISIOTOMY AT SPHMMC, ADDIS ABEBA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction -Episiotomy is a surgically planned incision into the perineal body made during the second stage of labor to facilitate delivery. Although rate of episiotomy decreased, it is still one of the most commonly performed procedures in obstetrics (1). Objective - The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of episiotomy and identify those risk factors associated with the practice of episiotomy at SPHMMC. Methodology - Hospital-based cross sectional study was conducted from February/2016 to JUL 1st /2016 and 405 mothers who gave birth vaginally were included in the study. Data was entered into SSPS statistical package version 16 and analyzed. Both bivariate and multivariate analysis used to see the association of the dependent and independent variables with p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Result – A total 405 participants were included in the study. The prevalence of episiotomy was found to be 65.4%. Both Bivariate &Multivariate analysis showed that nullipara, duration of second stage of labor, instrumental delivery, assisted breech delivery& birth weight were strongly associated with the practice of episiotomy with p- value < 0.05. Conclusions and Recommendations - The prevalence of episiotomy (65.4%) found to be higher than the other study done in Ethiopia & the WHO recommendation (5- 10%) & this higher prevalence of episiotomy cannot be justified. Nulliparity, duration of SSOL, instrumental & breech delivery and birth weight were strongly associated with increased risk of having episiotomy. So we should start to practice episiotomy for selected mothers for the right indication. Key word – Episiotomy