Perineal trauma during vaginal birth in Slovenia

analysis of national data for the period from 2013 to 2015

Authors

  • Petra Petročnik University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6084-4756
  • Ana Polona Mivšek University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • Teja Škodič Zakšek University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • Ivan Verdenik University Clinical Center Ljubljana, Department for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zaloška cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6249-5799
  • Anita Jug Došler Slovenian Institute for Adult Education, Šmartinska cesta 134a, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3486-2007

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2018.52.3.209

Keywords:

perineum, trauma, tears, incidence, childbirth

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective study was to examine the rates of perineal tears during childbirth in Slovenian  maternity hospitals in the period from 2013 to 2015.
Methods: A causal non-experimental method of quantitative empirical approach was conducted. Data were pooled from the Slovenian National Perinatal Information System and analysed for the period of 2013 to 2015. Data analysis was performed with the use of frequency distribution of attributive variables and the basic descriptive statistics of numerical variables.
Results: The incidence of perineal trauma during childbirth in all the 14 maternity hospitals varies from the "perineum without injury" to the "fourth degree perineal tear". Overall, 26.1 % of women sustained a first degree perineal tear, whereas 4.8 % of women had a second degree perineal tear. Severe perineal trauma included 0.8 % of third degree tears and 0.1 % of fourth degree tears.
Discussion and conclusion: Perineal trauma varies between Slovenian maternity hospitals. Women who have sustained tears that cut into their bowels may face serious health problems and should be given relevant advice regarding the state of their pelvic floor after childbirth. It is of great importance to appropriately recognise the severity of the perineal trauma. Moreover, health professionals should be familiar with the perineal trauma classification and the factors that may cause the perineum to tear during childbirth.

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Author Biographies

Petra Petročnik, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Assistant, MSc (UK), BsM

Ana Polona Mivšek, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Assistant Professor, PhD, BsM

Teja Škodič Zakšek, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Senior Lecturer, MSc (UK), BsM

Ivan Verdenik, University Clinical Center Ljubljana, Department for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zaloška cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

PhD, MSc, BSc

Anita Jug Došler, Slovenian Institute for Adult Education, Šmartinska cesta 134a, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Assistant Professor, PhD, BSc

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Published

2018-09-16

How to Cite

Petročnik, P., Mivšek, A. P., Škodič Zakšek, T., Verdenik, I., & Jug Došler, A. (2018). Perineal trauma during vaginal birth in Slovenia: analysis of national data for the period from 2013 to 2015. Slovenian Nursing Review, 52(3), 153–159. https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2018.52.3.209

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Original scientific article