Abstract:
Introduction: Episiotomy is obstetric surgical operation performed to increase the diameter of
the vulvas outlet during the late period of the second stage of labor to facilitate vaginal delivery.
The rate of episiotomy is on the decline in developed countries but still remains high in
developing countries. Though practice of episiotomy has become common problem among
mothers who delivered vaginally in Ethiopia, studies are limited to show its magnitude.
Objective: To assess prevalence and associated factors of episiotomy among Mothers who Gave
Birth at Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia from May 1 to September
1, 2021
Methods: Hospital based Cross sectional study was conducted among 460 Mothers who Gave
Birth Vaginally from May 1 to September 1, 2021 at Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital, Bahir
Dar City, Ethiopia.Study participants were selected with systematic random sampling. Pretested
Questionnaire was used to retrieve information. The collected data was entered into Epi-data and
then exported in to SPSS 23 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression
analysis with 95% CI was computed to identify statistically significant associated factors with P
value <0.05.
Results: The prevalence of episiotomy was 35.9% (95%CI= 31.9-40.4) in this study area. Age
group of 15-20 years [AOR =2.02(95% CI: (1.09,3.73)];level of education who attended primary
school [AOR = 3.66(95% CI: (1.93,6.94)], those who attended secondary school [AOR =
2.66(95% CI: (1.34,5.31)] and those who attended College and above [AOR = 2.34 (95% CI:
(1.14,4.78)],primiparity [AOR=2.71(95% CI: (1.59,4.62)], induced labor [AOR=2.36 (95% CI:
(1.27,4.38)],duration of second stage of labor greater than 2 hours [AOR=3.81(CI:( 1.50,9.65)],
instrument assisted delivery [AOR=3.60 (95%CI:( 1.03,12.55 )], a neonate whose birth weight
was more than or equal to 4kg [AOR=4.96 ( CI:( 1.38,17.77)] were the associated factors
affecting episiotomy practice
Conclusion and Recommendation: This study showed that the Prevalence of episiotomy was
high when compared with WHO recommendation. Young age, Primiparity, level of education,
duration of second stage of labor, instrumental delivery, induced labor and birth weight of the
neonate were significantly associated with the magnitude of episiotomy. It is important that
health care providers always consider indications of episiotomy and restrictive use of it.
Key words: Associated Factors, Episiotomy, Prevalence