Table 1 Characteristics of the participants in the questionnaire survey (n = 1171)

Country of birth (n = 1,163)

 Sweden

1,013 (87.1)

 Another European country

72 (6.2)

 Country outside Europe

78 (6.7)

Relationship status (n = 1,162)

 Married or cohabiting

1,147 (98.7)

 Single

15 (1.3)

Occupational status (n = 1,168)

 Employed

1,048 (89.7)

 Student

46 (3.9)

 Jobseeker

18 (1.5)

 Other

56 (4.8)

Education level (n = 1,160)

 Elementary school

18 (1.6)

 Upper secondary school

250 (21.6)

 College

882 (76.0)

 Other

10 (0.8)

Parity (n = 1,171)

 Primipara

685 (58.5)

 Multipara

486 (41.5)

Mode of birth (n = 1,171)

 Vaginal

916 (78.2)

 Instrumental

75 (6.4)

 Spontaneous

841 (71.8)

 Caesarean section

255 (21.8)

 Emergency

119 (10.2)

 Planned

136 (11.6)

Perineal trauma^a (n = 916)

 Degree 1 and 2

738 (80.6)

 Degree 3 and 4

50 (85.4)

 Episiotomy

7 (0.8)

Mean ± SD

Age (year) (n = 1,171)

32.4 ± 4.5