Awareness of Epidural Analgesia for Pain Relief During Labor Among Antenatal Woman in Tertiary Care Hospital A Prospective Questionnaire Based Study.

Dr. Shanthi Ponnusamy; Dr.Swarnalingam Thangavelu

Volume : VI, Issue : VII, July - 2017

Awareness of Epidural Analgesia for Pain Relief During Labor Among Antenatal Woman in Tertiary Care Hospital A Prospective Questionnaire Based Study.

Dr. Shanthi Ponnusamy, Dr. Swarnalingam Thangavelu

Abstract :

Background: Pain during labor can be effectively relieved by epidural analgesia. Nowadays �Walking epidural� technique is getting popular among urban hospitals. The utilization of this neuraxial technique is of greater concern among semi–urban and rural hospital set up due to lack of awareness about the benefits of receiving epidural analgesia during labor.

Aim & objectives: To determine the awareness about epidural analgesia during labour among antenatal women attending tertiary care hospital in semi–urban area.

Materials & methods: Three hundred antenatal women attending outpatient clinic of our obstetrics and gynaecology department were questioned about the epidural analgesia for pain relief during labor. The questionnaire contained questions including the demographic and parity details. Antenatal women who were planned for elective cesarean delivery were excluded from our study.

Results: All data were analysed using appropriate statistical methods. Most of our study participants were in the age group of 20–25 years and belonged to middle socioeconomic status. Only 11% of antenatal women had awareness about labour analgesia in our study.

Conclusion: We concluded that the knowledge and awareness about labor analgesia is not quiet appreciable among semi–urban antenatal women. It is the duty of health care givers including both medical and paramedical staffs to provide the adequate knowledge about the benefits of epidural analgesia for better maternal and fetal well being.