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Comparison of the efficacy and patients' satisfaction of povidone iodine and commercially prepared guava extract feminine wash as an external genital antiseptic among women who underwent vaginal delivery with episiorraphy in a tertiary hospital: A randomized clinical trial

Josephine G. Ignacio, MD and Jennifer T. Co, MD, FPOGS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF) Medical Center

Background: One of the most common complications of episiotomy is infection. Most infections will resolve with local perineal care. Hence, episiotomy wound care is important. In preventing wound infection cleansing the vulva and external genital area with an antiseptic solution prior to, and several days after the procedure until the wound is healed is potentially beneficial.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and patients? satisfaction of commercially prepared guava extract with povidone iodine as external genital antiseptic wash in women who underwent vaginal delivery and had episiorraphy in a Tertiary Hospital.

Results: There were 248 women who underwent episiotomy and randomized to the guava leaf extract (n=122) and povidone-iodine (n=126) feminine wash groups. Episiotomy wound infection rate between guava (0.81%) and povidone iodine (2.38%) feminine wash, was not significantly different (p=0.33). Occurrence of adverse event was lower in the guava leaf extract (1, 0.81%) as compared to povidone iodine (4, 3.17%) feminine wash group, but is not statistically significant (p=0.19). The mean patient satisfaction score for the guava feminine wash is 4.4 which was significantly higher than the mean score of those in the povidone iodine feminine wash which is 3.6 (p< 0.001).

Conclusion: The efficacy in preventing episiotomy wound infection and rate of adverse reaction with the use of commercially prepared guava leaf extract is comparable with povidone iodine as an external genital antiseptic. With regards to patients? satisfaction and cost this was found to favor the use of commercially prepared guava leaf extract external genital wash

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