Health at a Glance 2013
OECD Indicators
This seventh edition of Health at a Glance provides the latest comparable data on different aspects of the performance of health systems in OECD countries. It provides striking evidence of large variations across countries in health costs, health activities and health results of health systems. Key health indicators provide information on health status including suicide and life expectancy, the determinants of health, health care activities and health expenditure and financing in OECD countries. Each health indicator in the book is presented in a user-friendly format, consisting of charts illustrating variations across countries and over time, brief descriptive analyses highlighting the major findings conveyed by the health data, and a methodological box on the definition of the indicator and any limitations in data comparability.
Obstetric trauma
Patient safety during childbirth can be assessed by looking at potentially avoidable tearing of the perineum during vaginal delivery. Such tears extend to the perineal muscles and bowel wall and require surgery. They are more likely to occur in the case of first vaginal delivery, high baby’s birth weight, labour induction, occiput posterior baby position, prolonged second stage of labour and instrumental delivery. Possible complications include continued perineal pain and incontinence. A recent study found that around 10% of women who had such tears will suffer from faecal incontinence initially and almost 45% of women will have on-going symptoms after four to eight years (Sundquist, 2012).
Also available in: French
- Click to access:
-
Click to download PDF - 251.60KBPDF
-
Click to Read online and shareREAD