Perception and use of labour analgesia among antenatal attendees in a sub urban Nigerian population

Labour pain is the result of many complex interactions, physiological and psychological, excitatory as well as inhibitory. The severity of labour pain varies greatly among women in labour and the mechanism and perception depends on the stage of labour as well as birth preparedness. Over the years, various methods have been used to achieve pain free labour. However, an ideal method that will provide rapid, effective and safe pain relieve in labour, is difficult to find in medicine. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the level of awareness, perception and desirability and use of analgesia during labour. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at Irrua, Edo State on 307 patients who met the inclusion criteria during the study period using the McGill pain questionnaire. Results: Of the 307 respondents, 46 (15%) were aware of the use of analgesia during labour through literatures, lectures and symposia (58.8%). Two hundred and forty-four of the women (79.5%) were desirous of analgesia use in labour and the preferred method was intramuscular opoids (112(45.9%). Interestingly, 40.3% of the parturient did not want analgesia in labour because of their belief and God's will for them in 35.5% of the women. Education, occupation and parity had statistically significant association with the knowledge and desire of use of analgesia in labour (education (p=0.004), occupation (p=0.016) and parity (p=0.025. Conclusion: Education and high skilled occupation played important role in the knowledge and the desire for use of analgesia in labour. Therefore, continuous public enlightenment is advocated to reduce cultural misconception about the use of analgesia. This will go a long way in promoting the uptake of analgesia in labour.