ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2016
The social, psychological, emotional morbidity and adjustment techniques for women with anal incontinence following Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury: use of a word picture to identify a hidden syndrome.
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 69 citations in OpenAlex.
- Caesarean section and anal incontinence in women after obstetric anal sphincter injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology · 2025Pooled it
- Induction of labour versus expectant management after one previous caesarean birth maternal and neonatal outcomes in a population-based cohort study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Mode of Subsequent Delivery After Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASIs).International urogynecology journal · 2026Review
- Establishing the safety of waterbirth for mothers and their babies: the POOL cohort study with nested qualitative component.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2026Article
- Incidence and Risk Factors of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Thailand: A 10-Year Retrospective Cohort Study.International urogynecology journal · 2026Article
- Beyond the physical: exploring the complexities of Women's health after severe perineal trauma-a cross-sectional study on predictors of health-related quality of life in Sweden.Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Article
- Anorectal Transplantation: Current Overview and Translational Perspectives.Journal of the anus, rectum and colon · 2026Review
- Women's experience with a first- and second-degree perineal tear and episiotomy - a qualitative study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- A Care Bundle Aiming to Reduce the Risk of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury: A Survey of Women's Experiences.BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology · 2025Article
- 4D transperineal ultrasound: feedback for good obstetric anal sphincter injuries reparation.Journal of ultrasound · 2024Article
- GP's role in supporting women with anal incontinence after childbirth injury: a qualitative study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2024Article
- Overlooked by the obstetric gaze - how women with persistent health problems due to severe perineal trauma experience encounters with healthcare services: a qualitative study.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Diagnosis, management and training in perineal trauma: a UK national survey of obstetricians.International urogynecology journal · 2023Article
- Postpartum perineal wound infection and its effect on anal sphincter integrity: Results of a prospective observational study.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2023Observational
- Negotiating the ambiguity of an (in)authentic working life: a grounded theory study into severe perineal trauma.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- Women's experiences of anal incontinence following vaginal birth: A qualitative study of missed opportunities in routine care contacts.PloS one · 2023Article
- Evaluation of Episiotomy Characteristics of EPISCISSORS-60 Scissors Compared with Mayo Scissors: A Single-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran · 2023Article
- An International Continence Society (ICS)/ International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) joint report on the terminology for the assessment and management of obstetric pelvic floor disorders.International urogynecology journal · 2023Article
- Anal endosonographic assessment of the accuracy of clinical diagnosis of obstetric anal sphincter injury.International urogynecology journal · 2022Article
- Under-classified obstetric anal sphincter injuries.International urogynecology journal · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundTo identify the emotional, social and psychological consequences and recovery process of anal incontinence (AI) following obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) and explore if this can be identified as a recognisable syndrome with visual representation.
methodsA qualitative approach was adopted for this study. Data derived from case studies (n = 81) and interviews (n = 14) with women with AI after OASIS was used to identify the emotional, social and psychological consequences of AI after OASIS. Keywords and synonyms were extracted and the power of these statements displayed as a 'word picture'. The validity and authenticity of the word picture was then assessed by: a questionnaire sent to a group of mothers who had experienced this condition (n = 16); a focus group attended by mothers (n = 14) and supported by health professionals (n = 6) and via interviews with health professionals (n = 12) who were involved with helping mothers with AI following OASIS.
resultsWomen with AI resulting from OASIS have a specific syndrome - the 'OASIS Syndrome' - which we have uniquely visualised as a 'word picture'. They feel unclean which results in dignity loss, psychosexual morbidity, isolation, embarrassment, guilt, fear, grief, feeling low, anxiety, loss of confidence, a feeling of having been mutilated and a compromised role as a mother. Coping relies on repetitive washing (which may become a ritual), planning daily activities around toiletry needs, sharing, family support, employment if possible and attention to the baby. Recovery and healing is through care of the child and hope generated by love within the family.
conclusionsThis study has identified a previously unrecognised 'OASIS Syndrome' and, by way of a new and unique 'word picture', revealed a hidden condition. There should be greater awareness by the public and profession about the 'OASIS Syndrome' and a mechanism for early identification of the condition and referral for management. This, if successful, would overcome the barrier of silence which surrounds this currently unspoken taboo.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.