Knowledge, acceptability and utilization of epidural analgesia in antenatal clinic attendees at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital (UTH), Osogbo, Osun State

Abstract

Background/Objective: Labour pain is perceived as the most harrowing and agonizing event of a woman's life. Efforts at reducing the pain and making  the event less stressful have predated modern obstetric practice. Epidural analgesia has provided effective pain relief in labour for over three decades.  Delivery with epidural analgesia is routine for willing parturients in the developing world, however ignorance, cost as well as lack of qualified personnel  has made this to be out of reach of the average Nigerian mother. The aim of this study was to assess level of awareness, acceptability, previous utilization  and willingness to utilize epidural analgesia in labour following health education. Subjects/Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the antenatal clinic of UTH, Osogbo. Health education on events of labour and methods  of analgesia available was provided to all antenatal clinic attendees between September 2021and March 2022, following which a semi–structured  purpose designed, and self- administered questionnaire was administered to 415 of these women who consented to participate in this study. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 32.57± 4.42 years and mean parity of 1.73± 0.96. 70.8% reported that labour pain was severe. 41.7% were  aware of epidural analgesia before the health talk. 3.6% of our subjects had utilized epidural in their last confinement. However, only 47.7% expressed a  wish to utilize epidural analgesia in labour. Conclusion: Awareness of epidural analgesia in study population was passable at 40% however willingness to utilize it was less than average despite  health talk and reassurance by their attending obstetric team.