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%.