Poster Presentation
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
This presentation is part of : Poster Presentations I
Comparison of Vaginal Deliveries Outcomes Among Different Races
Jennifer Truax, RN, MSN and Jung-Tzu Lin, RN, MSN. Women's Services, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA, USA
Learning Objective #1: identify at least three delivery outcomes that are significantly different among different races
Learning Objective #2: identify the risk factors associated with perineal lacerations.
Background: Most pregnant women desire a spontaneous vaginal delivery without any complications. Due to biological and social-economic variances, race has been identified as an important factor associated with pregnancy outcomes and perineal trauma during vaginal deliveries. However, vaginal deliveries outcomes within multiple races have been scarce in the literature.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of vaginal deliveries among different races. 

Methods: This was a correlational study included Hispanic, Caucasian, Asian and African American women. The sample consisted of all vaginal deliveries with live neonates of at least 20 weeks gestation during February and March 2005. The deliveries occurred at a large tertiary hospital with over 11,000 deliveries each year. Data were collected by chart review. Outcomes measured were gestational age, baby’s weight, length of second stage of labor, use of instruments, rate of episiotomy, and perineal lacerations. Descriptive and correlation statistics were used to analyze the data.

Results: A total of 781 women were included in this study (302 Hispanic, 289 Caucasian, 130 Asian, and 60 African American). There was no significant difference in gestational age among different races. There were significant differences among Hispanic, Caucasian, Asian, and African American women in baby’s weight (3313 vs 3429 vs 3245 vs 3256 gm, P<.000), length of second stage of labor (46.2 vs 57.3 vs 60.5 vs 44.3 mins, p<.05), use of instrument (8.9% vs 13.5% vs, 21.5% vs 20%, p<.002), and episiotomy rate (12%, 39%, 54% and 38%, p<.000). Although not found to be statistically significant, the rate of 3 & 4 degree lacerations were 5%, 9%, 11% and 7% respectively (p=.145).Women with an episiotomy were more likely to have 3rd or 4th degree lacerations (χ2=218.9, P<.000).

Conclusion: These results show the variance of delivery outcomes and indicate the need of individualized prenatal and antenatal care for different races.

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