Findings from the analysis of epidemiological data for this study population were consistent with those from clinical studies, indicating that liberal as opposed to restrictive use of episiotomy is unwarranted, and probably even harmful. Hospital episiotomy rates exceeded 20 percent in all cases, but such rates appear difficult to justify in face of the evidence.

‏¹ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Re...