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Feb 10, 2005Keywords:
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Perception of Labour Pain by Pregnant Women in Southwestern Nigeria
Abstract
Methods: With the help of an epidemiologist, we designed a questionnaire to apply to women who have had at last one normal delivery. Women attending the antenatal booking clinic in three big hospitals in South-western Nigeria, with a predominant population of Yorubas, were interviewed. Questions asked were : Labour pain rating using a 3- point Verbal rating Scale (VRS), (2) what they would want done to pain when in labour, (3)analgesic use in previous labour (s), (4) patient\'s greatest worry during labour.
Results: A total of 486 multiparous women were interviewed. Over 70% rated labour pain as moderately to severely painful. 32% would not want any pain relief while in labour but another 33% would want it eliminated. Labour pain was the greatest worry of 14% during labour while 40% claimed they had no worries. 95% claimed not to have had any analgesia during previous deliveries. All those who had analgesia were given only intramuscular injections while in labour.
Conclusions: Though most Nigerian women find labour painful, they appear to tolerate it well. Methods available for pain relief in developed countries are not in use here. The only method in use is not very effective.
Key Words: Labour Pain, Analgesia, Verbal Rating Scale.
[Trop J Obstet Gynaecol, 2004; 21:153-155]
