Journal of evaluation in clinical practice
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Multicenter Study
A multicenter cross-sectional study of episiotomy practice in Romania.
The aim of this study was to focus attention on episiotomy practice in Romanian maternity units in order to identify factors associated with the very high rate of the procedure in Romania and to consider strategies to reduce it. ⋯ In conclusion, routine episiotomy is the norm in Romanian maternity units, with episiotomy rates among the highest in Europe. Episiotomy use is mainly driven by local professional norms, experiences, previous training, and practitioners' decisions rather than evidence, guidelines, or variations in patient needs at the time of vaginal birth.