Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of operative vaginal birth among obstetric providers in Egypt

Operative vaginal birth (OVB) plays a vital role in managing the second stage of labor, offering a safe alternative to cesarean section (CS) when appropriately indicated.

This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of obstetric providers in Egypt regarding OVB.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 obstetric providers across various regions of Egypt using a self-administered questionnaire. The tool assessed demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to OVB. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with both descriptive and inferential statistics. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Most participants (57.2%) had less than 5 years of experience with OVB, and 56.2% demonstrated very low knowledge. OVB was rarely practiced, with 95.8% of participants reporting zero monthly procedures. Key barriers included inadequate training, staffing, and equipment (reported by 91.2%), along with fear of litigation (55.4%). The most commonly reported complications were equipment-related issues (35.6%) and maternal trauma (15%). A significant association was observed between OVB knowledge and both age and years of experience (P < 0.001).

The study reveals critical gaps in the knowledge and practice of OVB among obstetric providers in Egypt. Targeted interventions, such as enhanced training programs, national clinical guidelines, and institutional support, are urgently needed to promote safe OVB and reduce the overuse of CS.