Prevalence and factors associated with the perception of perineal laceration: a cross-sectional study with data from the Nascer no Brasil Survey, 2011 and 2012.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of perineal laceration, based on the self-reported perception of postpartum women, and to analyze factors associated with its occurrence in Brazil.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 23,894 postpartum women, excluding twin pregnancies, cesarean sections, and births with episiotomies, between 2011 and 2012. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) of association between the event and maternal, fetus/newborn, obstetric and clinical management characteristics were estimated in hierarchical Poisson regression models.

Results: Out of 4,606 postpartum women, 49.5% (95%CI 46.1;42.9) self-reported perineal laceration. Being an adolescent (PR = 1.12; 95%CI 1.02;1.25), primipara (PR = 1.47; 95%CI 1.33;1.63), having had excessive gestational weight gain (PR = 1.17; 95%CI 1.07;1.29) and having undergone the Kristeller maneuver (PR = 1.18; 95%CI 1.08;1.29) increased the proportion of the outcome.

Conclusion: The results found call for prenatal care and adjustments to childbirth care so as to be in accordance with current recommendations.

Main results: Prevalence of self-reported perineal laceration was 49.5%. Being in the adolescent age group, primiparity, excessive gestational weight and the Kristeller maneuver were risk factors associated with the event.

Implications for services: Studying self-reported prevalence of perineal laceration supports new care practices, highlights the prevention of risk factors considered modifiable and confirms the need to follow current guidelines.

Perspectives: New national studies are needed comparing prevalence of self-reported perineal laceration with that recorded in medical records in order to support care practices and public obstetric policies.