Attitude and knowledge of Latvian women towards episiotomy

Abstract

Background: Although episiotomy is one of the most common surgical procedures, there is still not a lot of research on patients' experience, knowledge and attitudes.Methods: A structured questionnaire was developed and carried out online to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes toward episiotomy among pregnant women and women who had given birth in the previous three years.Results: In this study, 1394 respondents were included. 72.6% of respondents knew what episiotomy was and why the procedure was performed, and 50.9% of those women acknowledged that before labour they did not receive an adequate amount of information. There is a correlation between the knowledge of episiotomies and refusal of the procedure (Spearman’s r=-0.133, p≤0.001). In case of insufficient information, women were more likely to refuse the procedure. 36.2% of women who experienced episiotomy were informed about the procedure and gave their consent to it and 51.9% did not, the rest could not give a concrete answer.Conclusions: Women are not provided with sufficient information about episiotomies during pregnancy. In the majority of cases, patient involvement in the decision-making is not observed. Women must be provided with choices and obtaining their consent should be an integral part of the procedure.