Patient safety during childbirth can be assessed by looking at potentially avoidable tearing of the perineum during vaginal delivery (Harvey, 2015). Such tears extend to the perineal muscles and bowel wall require surgery. They are more likely to occur in the case of first vaginal delivery, high baby birth weight, labour induction, occiput posterior baby position, prolonged second stage of labour and instrumental delivery. Possible complications include continued perineal pain and incontinence. These types of tears are not possible to prevent in all cases, but can be reduced by employing appropriate labour management and high quality obstetric care. Hence, the proportion of deliveries involving higher degree lacerations is a useful indicator of the quality of obstetric care.