title: Variations in rates of severe perineal tears and episiotomies in 20 European countries: a study based on routine national data in Euro-Peristat Project.
abstract: Rates of severe perineal tears and episiotomies are indicators of obstetrical quality of care, but their use for international comparisons is complicated by difficulties with accurate ascertainment of tears and uncertainties regarding the optimal rate of episiotomies. We compared rates of severe perineal tears and episiotomies in European countries and analysed the association between these two indicators.
  
  
  
  We used aggregate data from national routine statistics available in the Euro-Peristat project. We compared rates of severe (third- and fourth-degree) tears and episiotomies in 2010 by mode of vaginal delivery (n = 20 countries), and investigated time trends between 2004 and 2010 (n = 9 countries). Statistical associations were assessed with Spearman's ranked correlations (rho).
  
  
  
  In 2010 in all vaginal deliveries, rates of severe tears ranged from 0.1% in Romania to 4.9% in Iceland, and rates of episiotomies from 3.7% in Denmark to 75.0% in Cyprus. A negative correlation between the rates of episiotomies and severe tears was observed in all deliveries (rho = -0.66; p = 0.001), instrumental deliveries (rho = -0.67; p = 0.002) and non-instrumental deliveries (rho = -0.72; p < 0.001). However there was no relation between time trends of these two indicators (rho = 0.43; p = 0.28).
  
  
  
  The large variations in severe tears and episiotomies and the negative association between these indicators in 2010 show the importance of improving the assessment and reporting of tears in each country, and evaluating the impact of low episiotomy rates on the perineum.
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blondel
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Epidemiology and Reproductive Health Unit, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Research Centre, School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Ragnheiður I
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0503-1319
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Bjarnadóttir
authors.affiliation: THL National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8254-7525
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gissler
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics Clinic, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langhoff-Roos
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, Ljubljana University, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Živa
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Novak-Antolič
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prunet
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Epidemiology and Reproductive Health Unit, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Research Centre, School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wei-Hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, TNO Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ashna D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hindori-Mohangoo
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeitlin
mesh_terms: D004841:Episiotomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Europe; Perineum; anal canal; episiotomy; injury; international comparisons; obstetric labor complications; tears; time trends