Episiotomy in childbirth: Perspectives of postpartum women, obstetricians and traditional birth attendants in Cotabato City

• Main Author: Regudo, Joel M.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1999
• Subjects: Childbirth; Episiotomy; Rural women; Labor (Obstetrics) > Complications; Obstetrics > Surgery; Manners and customs; Medicine and Health Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/2005
• Institution: De La Salle University

Routine or prophylactic episiotomy is the quintessential example of a obstetrical procedure that persists despite a lack of evidence for it and a considerable body of evidence against it. It has become one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures. This study seeks to describe and explore the existing practice, context and perspectives on episiotomy among postpartum women, ostetricians and traditional birth attendants.Conducted in Cotabato City, in Central Mindanao, a retrospective review was performed on 30 deliveries during August 1998 to January 1999 on women who gave birth in the hospital and women who gave birth at home. Data collection was done through in-depth interviews. Content analysis was used to analyze the data.The study found out that women's socio-demographic characteristics were generally not associated with episiotomy use. Income levels were found to indirectly affect episiotomy use during delivery independent of the clinical situation. The level of awareness of women regarding episiotomy was relatively low. The primary sources of information about episiotomy were the women's previous experience with the procedure and from other women who have episiotomies before. All women who delivered in the hospitals have had an episiotomy, while all women who delivered at home did not have an episiotomy although there were reports of lacerations among home birthers. The consequences of episiotomy are generally seen in terms of mobility, relationship with significant others and sexual functioning. Obstetricians have more favorable attitudes towards episiotomy compared to traditional birth attendants. Both the patient factors and the health provider factors interact to create an atmosphere for episiotomy use. Favorable attitudes of the health providers coupled with independent factors of the patient determine the likelihood of episiotomy use during childbirth.