The Effect of Episiotomy Wound Care and Genital Hygiene Training on Episiotomy Wound Healing and Pain Perception: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The fact that episiotomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures in labor causes its care to become even more important. Objective: To determine the effect of episiotomy wound care and genital hygiene training on episiotomy wound healing and pain perception. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was carried out in the postpartum service of the medical faculty hospital between March 2022 and April 2022. Women (n=128) who underwent vaginal episiotomy were randomly assigned to the training (n=64) and control (n=64) group. The women who gave birth in the training group were given episiotomy wound care and genital hygiene training. Routine postpartum care was given to the women who gave birth in the control group. The data were collected using the personal information form, the Episiotomy Site Evaluation Scale (REEDA score) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: According to the REEDA Scale (redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge, approximation) of the wound healing status of the episiotomy site of the groups on the fifth (excluding ecchymosis) and 15th days postpartum, it was determined that the women in the training group healed faster than the women in the control group (p .05). At the end of the evaluation with VAS on the fifth and 15th day after birth, it was determined that the perception of episiotomy wound site pain in women in the training group was lower than in women in the control group (p .05). Conclusions: It was determined that episiotomy wound care and genital hygiene training contributed to the acceleration of episiotomy wound healing and the decrease of pain perception in terms of redness, edema, discharge, approximation on the fifth (excluding ecchymosis) and 15th days. These results may contribute to restructuring postpartum care protocols. It is recommended that healthcare professionals, including nurses and midwives, integrate genital hygiene and wound care education into standard postpartum care practices to accelerate postpartum healing and reduce pain perception.