Asian women in England almost twice as likely to suffer severe childbirth tears

Exclusive: Analysis of NHS data shows rates of most serious tears are nearly double those for white and black women

Asian women in England are almost twice as likely to suffer the most severe birth injuries during labour, with many healthcare professionals unaware of this greater risk, analysis has found.

Third- and fourth-degree tears, also known as obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI), are the most severe forms of vaginal tearing during childbirth.