Frequency of episiotomy practice in an institution in Quito, Ecuador 2009-2022.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of episiotomy over a 14-year period and to explore its association with maternal, delivery, and neonatal variables using administrative data.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. Women who had a vaginal delivery with a live newborn at a referral hospital for obstetric care in Ecuador were included. Consecutive sampling was employed. ICD-10 records and the perinatal information system (PIS) were utilized. Sociodemographic, gestational, delivery, and neonatal variables were assessed. Descriptive analysis was performed. The overall and yearly prevalence was determined. Exploratory bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. The study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Universidad Central del Ecuador.

RESULTS

A total of 11,862 records were analyzed. The overall prevalence of episiotomy was 36.69 %, with a maximum of 42 % and a minimum of 28 %. There is an implied trend towards a reduction in frequency from 2019 to 2022. A positive association was found between episiotomy and maternal age under 20 years, previous cesarean section, absence of a companion during delivery, term newborns, and large for gestational age newborns. A negative association was found with previous vaginal deliveries.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of episiotomy exceeds the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO). Clinical practice guidelines should consider potentially modifiable maternal and neonatal factors in their recommendations. Prospective studies should be conducted to evaluate the safety of the procedure, confirm these observations, and use robust methodologies to assess if there is a real decrease in its practice.