The awareness and desirability of pain relief in labour among pregnant women in Zaria
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Abstract
Background: It is generally believed in third world countries that labour pains are well tolerated and so analgesia in labour is unnecessary. Studies have shown high levels of awareness but poor utilisation among parturients. This study assessed the level of awareness, desirability and barriers to the use of labour analgesia among pregnant women in Zaria.
Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out on 368 antenatal clinic clients at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, from November, 2011 to January, 2012. A semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire was administered, and the data collected were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 16.
Results: The mean age of the respondents was 29.1 ± 5.5 (standard deviation) years. Majority (41.3%) were Hausas, 61% were Muslims, 56% were aware of labour analgesia and most (34.8%) got their information from nurses. The most common method of pain relief known was music and hypnosis, constituting 97.3%. Only 13.3% of the clients (49) have ever experienced any form of analgesia administered during labour and half of which got their experience overseas. About 62.5% of the clients desired pain relief in labour, but the
major obstacle to its uptake was unavailability of the methods.
Conclusion: Although patients are aware of labour analgesia, most have not experienced it mainly due to nonavailability of the methods. Clients need further education, and pain relief in labour should be made available in maternity centres.
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