Statistical significance is determined by a p-value less than 0.05.
Because the incidence of episiotomy in primigravid patients was 97%,
meaning that only 14 patients of the 411 did not receive an episiotomy,
it was determined that findings among primigravid patients would not
adequately represent clinical practices and would not be statistically
significant. Findings among the collective patient sample would be
highly skewed by primigravid patients and would therefore not be studied
either.
Multiple variables were found to be statistically significant among
multigravida; including maternal age, gravidity, parity, cervical
diameter on admission, fetal presentation, and years of marriage. The
correlations with these variables are discussed below, while possible
reasons and deductions are discussed in the ‘Discussion’ section of the
paper.
It was determined that maternal age was inversely proportional to the
rate of episiotomy, with patients younger than 26 having a rate of
episiotomy higher than the mean, and this is especially pronounced in
patients aged 18 to 20, with an episiotomy rate of 70%.
Gravidity and parity were very strongly inversely correlated to the
incidence of episiotomy. The more pregnancies and deliveries a patient
had, the less likely they are to have had an episiotomy.
Moreover, it was concluded that the cervical diameter upon admission to
the delivery ward was inversely proportional to the incidence of
episiotomy. The highest rate of episiotomy was documented in patients
presenting with a 3 cm dilated cervix, and was at its lowest at 7 cm or
more.
All patients with fetuses presenting with a non-cephalic presentation in
the vaginal delivery ward had an episiotomy. Therefore, fetal
presentation is strongly correlated to the incidence of episiotomy.
The number of years a patient was married for was found to be negatively
correlated to the incidence of episiotomy, the longer the patient was
married for, the less likely they would have episiotomy.
Whereas gestational weight and age were not found to be statistically
significant, the following correlations were established.
Gestational weight was found to be directly proportional to the rate of
episiotomy, reaching a 70% episiotomy rate in newborns weighing 4 kg or
more.
Regarding gestational age, there was a noted increase in the incidence
of episiotomy in preterm and post-term deliveries, which are medical
indications for the procedure. The incidence among preterm deliveries
was 67%, with early preterm deliveries (before 34 gestational weeks)
having a higher incidence rate than late preterm deliveries (between 34
and 37 gestational weeks), respectively, 73% and 65%.