The attitudes of obstetric caregivers towards labor pain relief methods and associated factors at public health centers of East Gojjam zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia: Institutional based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction labour pain relief is a key factor for maternal satisfaction during childbirth. However, in developing countries, labour pain management is not a well-established service mainly due to negative attitudes of health care providers resulting in unmeasured suffering from childbirth for mothers. Thus, this study was aimed to assess attitude of obstetric caregiver towards labour pain management and associated factors at public health centers of East Gojjam zone. Methods institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1-30, 2018. Three hundred and nine sampled obstetric caregivers have participated, with a 96.8%(299) response rate. Data were collected with structured pretested questionnaires. Data were entered into Epi data 4.2 versions and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was carried out using SPSS 23 versions with 95 % CI to determine the association between dependent and independent variables. Results out of the study participants, 128 (42.8%) had a negative attitude towards managing labour pain. Knowledge (AOR =3.785, 95 % CI: 2.251,6.365), training (AOR=2.923, 95% CI: 1.266, 6.749) and Companion (AOR=1.834, 95% CI: 1.055, 3.189) had significantly associated with attitude of obstetric caregiver towards labour pain relief methods. Conclusion the result of this study showed that there is still a negative attitude towards labour pain management among obstetric caregivers in the study setting. Providing knowledge-based in-service training for obstetric caregivers to change their attitude towards labour pain relief methods is advisable.

Labor pain management practices and associated factors in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…There is a wide range of factors which may influence labor pain, including emotional feelings, mothers' expectations, physical and personal characteristics associated with the women in labor. 2,[15][16][17] Though labor pain management measures are accepted and implemented in many countries around the world, in low-resource settings, the provision of pain relief during childbirth is often neglected. For instance, this is the case in Ethiopia, a country with low institutional delivery rates.…”

“…Evidence also showed that despite improvement in the development of standards for pain assessment and treatment, labor pain is mostly ignored especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries resulting in unmeasured suffering from childbirth for mothers. There is a wide range of factors which may influence labor pain, including emotional feelings, mothers' expectations, physical and personal characteristics associated with the women in labor 2,15–17 …”