Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Request for Labor Epidural Analgesia in a Tertiary Obstetric Hospital in Vietnam

Abstract

This study is aimed at examining the sociodemographic factors associated with the utilization of labor epidural analgesia at a large obstetric and gynecology hospital in Vietnam. This was a cross-sectional study of women who underwent vaginal delivery in September 2018 at the Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. The utilization of epidural analgesia during labor was determined. Univariate and multivariate regression models were applied to evaluate the association between patient demographic and socioeconomic factors and request for labor epidural analgesia. A total of 417 women had vaginal deliveries during the study period. 207 women utilized epidural analgesia for pain relief during labor, and 210 did not. Parturients older than 35 years of age (OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.11-8.17), multiparous women (OR 2.8 95% CI 1.85-4.25), women living from an urban area, women with higher income (OR 6.47, 95% CI 2.59-19.23), and women with higher level of education were more likely to utilize labor epidurals. Factors related to a parturient request for epidural analgesia during labor at our tertiary obstetric hospital included age greater than 35 years, multiparity, and high income and education levels. Educational outreach to women about the benefits of epidural analgesia can target women who do not share these demographic characteristics.

Knowledge and Practice of and Attitude Toward Epidural Analgesia Among Pregnant Women in Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia

“…Moreover, women in urban cities had a higher prevalence of EA use than those in rural areas [ 17 ]. The 31 to 40-year age group had a higher prevalence of EA use than the other age groups, which is consistent with the results reported in the literature [ 1 , 18 - 19 ]. In Nigeria, research showed that 72% of women would accept EA and 74% would recommend it to their friends and relatives [ 20 ].…”

“…When asked about the presence of complications, 42% of the women thought that it can cause serious complications, compared with 38.7% in Khamis Mushait [5,8,22]. These findings are supported by studies from India [14], Nigeria [19,23], Ethiopia [21], and Vietnam [18], where a considerable number of women have myths regarding the effect of EA on uterine contractions.…”

Childbirth in Bhutan: A study on the use of neuraxial analgesia for labor pain

“…In our study, the preference for NLA was less in those who had studied below the secondary level. Similar to our observation, in Vietnam, it has been observed that among mothers, the level of education had an influential role in their decision to opt for NLA [18]. In this study, graduates were four times more likely to use epidural analgesia than those educated up to high school [18].…”

“…A study using the MCGILL pain questionnaire found that primiparous women experienced a higher level of pain in the first stage of labor than multiparous women [1]. In contrast, a study in Vietnam reported that NLA was preferred more by women aged more than 35 years and those who were multiparous [18].…”

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

“…It is also significant that 75% of those who had utilized epidural analgesia were willing to repeat it in subsequent deliveries. This is in keeping with 8,9,15,18 findings from earlier studies . The willingness to use EA in women who have had it before further reinforces that EA is safe for both 19 mothers and babies as shown in earlier studies .…”