The aim of this study was to analyze the association between the epidural analgesia and the perineal laceration in women submitted to a vaginal childbirth. A descriptive and transversal study was realized with 109 archives of women attended during the childbirth process in a maternity located in Ribeirão Preto. The data was collected in March and April 2003. To analyze the correlation between the variables, the Chi-Square Test was applied. Was realized normal childbirth in 91,7% of the parturient and forceps labor in 8,2%. In the data analysis, 74.3% of the sample received epidural analgesia, 26.5% had some degree of laceration perineal and 9.1% had intact perineum. The results demonstrated none association between the mentioned variables. No statistical significance was found in this study to affirm that the conditions of the perineum after the vaginal childbirth and the use of the epidural analgesia are associates (x²4GL= 3,1).
Natural childbirth; Analgesia; Epidural; Perineum; Women's health
