Episiotomy — a surgical incision of the perineum during childbirth — has historically been performed routinely across many obstetric settings. Despite long-standing recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) advocating restrictive use, episiotomy rates continue to vary widely across institutions and jurisdictions. The most recent published data from the Malaysian National Obstetrics Registry (NOR, 2010) reported a national episiotomy rate of 22%, more than double the WHO ceiling of 10%, indicating a sustained gap between national practice and international benchmarks.

Beyond episiotomy, perineal trauma during childbirth — including spontaneous tears and obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) — remains a significant cause of short- and long-term maternal morbidity, with implications for continence, sexual health, and psychological wellbeing. Effective perineal management, therefore, requires not only technical proficiency in repair but also sound clinical judgement, evidence-informed prevention, and coordinated interprofessional care across the maternity team.

This workshop, Perineal Management in Childbirth: Prevention, Decision Making and Repair, is designed to refresh and strengthen healthcare providers' knowledge and clinical approach to the full continuum of perineal care during childbirth — from prevention and protective intrapartum techniques, through informed decision making, accurate classification of tears, surgical repair, and post-repair management.

This program is accredited by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and carries 8 CPD points. Participants will receive their CPD points upon successful completion of the workshop, supporting their continuing professional development obligations under the MMC's CPD framework.

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