ArticleBJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology2025
Evolution of Episiotomy Incidence and Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury Over 10 Years: A Mixed-Methods Study.
Article in BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
objectiveTo assess the association between the decrease in the use of episiotomy and the incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) over a 10-year period and understand their reasons by interviewing obstetricians and midwives.
designMixed-methods study.
settingA tertiary university public maternity hospital, Paris, France. POPULATION: All patients who delivered vaginally between January 2012 and December 2021 in the maternity hospital and 20 interviews with obstetrician-gynaecologists and midwives.
methodsQuantitative data analysis using a multivariate logistic regression model, stratifying on the mode of delivery. Semi-structured interview with 20 obstetricians and midwives, with an interview guide.
main outcome measuresObstetric anal sphincter injuries.
resultsThe quantitative study of 37 942 women (16.1% of whom had an episiotomy and 1.4% OASIS) shows that, the incidence of episiotomy decreased from 25% to 7.6% over this 10-year period. Allow on the known risk factors for OASIS, we demonstrate that its incidence rose (adjusted odds ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.67) for the years in which the episiotomy incidence fell below 10% for the overall population. The interviews showed professionals' apparent awareness that the decreased incidence in episiotomy (achieved by changes in departmental policy, redefining its benefit/risk balance and acquiring new skills to manage the expulsion phase) could lead to an increased incidence of OASIS.
conclusionsDecreasing the episiotomy incidence appears to be associated with a rising incidence of OASIS. The optimal incidence of episiotomy remains controversial in the literature and among professionals.
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