Lower Genital Tract Trauma during Spontaneous

Abstract

Birth trauma remains a source of worry to patients and birth attendants but information remains scarce about its range and extent as well as evidence based preventive techniques. To determine the prevalence/pattern of lower genital tract lacerations during spontaneous vaginal deliveries and determine the influence of age, parity and fetal size. 1,320 consecutive parturients who had spontaneous vaginal deliveries at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Nigeria were examined. Findings were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Minitab statistical software The prevalence of trauma in this population was 22%. First degree perineal lacerations were the commonest type (47.3%) and third degree perineal lacerations were the rarest (0.3%). Lower genital tract trauma was not found to be significantly related to age (p >0.000) and parity (p > 0.000). However, high fetal birth weight was found to be a significant risk factor in this population (p <0.000). Birth trauma is a common morbidity. Current preventive techniques largely lack evidence that is needed to validate them.

Keywords: Perineal trauma, Spontaneous vaginal delivery, Fetal birth weight, Episiotomy

The Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 51 (1&2) 2007: pp. 16-19