Episiotomy rates in primiparous women in Latin America: Hospital based descriptive study

ALTHABE, FERNANDO; BELIZÁN, JOSÉ M.; BERGEL, EDUARDO

British Medical Journal

BMJ Publishing Group

Año: 2002 vol. 324 p. 945 - 946

0959-8146

Current scientific evidence shows that routine episi­otomy is not justified: it has no benefit for mother or infant, increases the need for perineal suturing and the risk of complications to the healing process at seven days post partum, produces unnecessary pain and dis­comfort, and has potentially harmful long term effects.1?3 We report rates of episiotomy in primiparous women in Latin American hospitals according to char­acteristics of hospitals and caregivers.