Repair of spontaneous perineal laceration at delivery, a cultural taboo: a case report

Abstract

Although genital trauma is a recognized maternal complication of vaginal birth, the presence of skilled birth attendants at delivery and judicious use of episiotomy has been shown to reduce this risk to the barest minimum. Prompt repair of these traumas averts the resultant complications
that may arise. A case of a booked 18-year-old nulliparous Guinea-Conakry woman with a  second-degree perineal tear who declined repair
due to a cultural reason is presented. The need for supervised delivery as well as immediate and long-term health implications of her decision is
discussed.

Keywords: Perineal laceration, Genital trauma,
Skilled/unskilled birth attendant, vaginal
delivery/childbirth, custom, belief, haemorrhage