Syeda Sitwat Fatima, Parveen Naved, Jamila M Naib.
Risk factors for intrapartum perineal tears.
J Med Sci Jan ;21(2):66-9.

Objective: To identify risk factors potentially influencing the occurrence of perineal tears during child birth in women presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar. Material and Methods: This was a hospital based descriptive study, conducted at the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, from February 2007 to August 2007. Women with full term singleton pregnancy in active labour were included in the study. Data was collected using a written, structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS. Results: A total of 50 women who had perineal tears during child birth were studied. Nulliparity (76%), episiotomy (62%), prolonged 2nd stage of labour (32%), infant birth weight of >3.5 kg (25%), were significantly associated with the perineal tears. Moreover, outlet forceps delivery was a risk factor for major (3rd& 4th) degree perineal tears. Conclusion: The most important obstetric risk factors for perineal tears are nulliparity, mediolateral episiotomy, instrumental delivery and prolonged 2nd stage of labour.

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