Department Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Greys Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; and, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Apr 28;13(1):e1-e6. doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.2424.
Episiotomy was introduced into clinical practice without clear evidence of its benefits.The knowledge and understanding of episiotomy guidelines and practice by healthcare workers is substandard in our setting; hence, the injudicious use of this procedure have led to high rates.
To assess the knowledge, perception and practice of episiotomy by healthcare workers.
Research was conducted in a Pietermaritzburg complex, South AfricaMethods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted amongst healthcare workers regarding episiotomy practice. In addition to providing demographic data, the participants were requested to respond to 35 proposed statements regarding episiotomy practice. Data were analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software.
One hundred and forty-two midwives and 66 medical practitioners completed the questionnaires. There were variations in responses to several statements on episiotomy practice by medical practitioners and nurses based on their level of experience. This study found that the majority of HCWs did not have access to a protocol or policy on episiotomy practice in their units; furthermore, nor knowledge of the South African guidelines for maternity care on episiotomy practice. Significantly, more medical practitioners felt a need for more in-service training and an increase in the number of episiotomies performed under supervision. The commonly reported reason for performing an episiotomy by both medical practitioners and midwives was to reduce 3rd - 4th degree perineal tears.
Healthcare workers in our setting displayed poor knowledge about the practice of episiotomy and were not aware of existing national guidelines on episiotomy practice.
会阴切开术在缺乏明确益处证据的情况下引入临床实践。我们的医疗保健工作者对会阴切开术指南和实践的了解和理解不足；因此，这种手术的不当使用导致了很高的发生率。
评估医疗保健工作者对会阴切开术的知识、看法和实践。
研究在南非彼得马里茨堡的一个综合体中进行。
对医疗保健工作者进行了一项基于问卷的会阴切开术实践调查。除了提供人口统计学数据外，参与者还被要求对 35 个关于会阴切开术实践的建议进行回答。数据使用 SPSS（社会科学统计软件包）软件进行分析。
142 名助产士和 66 名医生完成了问卷。医生和护士对会阴切开术实践的几个陈述的回答存在差异，这取决于他们的经验水平。这项研究发现，大多数 HCWs 在他们的单位没有会阴切开术实践的协议或政策；此外，也不了解南非母婴保健会阴切开术实践指南。重要的是，更多的医生认为需要更多的在职培训，并增加在监督下进行的会阴切开术数量。医生和助产士普遍报告进行会阴切开术的原因是减少 3 度-4 度会阴撕裂。
我们研究环境中的医疗保健工作者对会阴切开术的实践知之甚少，并且不知道现有的国家会阴切开术实践指南。
