PERCEPTION OF EPIDURAL ANALGESIA FOR LABOUR AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HOSPITAL SETTING

Epidural anaesthesia is the preferred technique and gold standard for labour analgesia. However this technique is poorly utilized in our setting .This study is therefore aimed to assess the perception of this technique for labour analgesia among pregnant women in a Nigerian tertiary hospital setting in order to suggest ways of improving the utilization of same. To assess the knowledge and percerption of women regarding epidural analgesia for labour in the antenatal clinics. University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Southsouth Nigeria. A total of 420 women attending the antenatal clinics of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in South-south Nigeria were interviewed using semi-structured researcher-administered questionnaires. Respondents' socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of epidural analgesia and its acceptance were obtained, documented and analyzed. Four hundred and five (94.6%) out of 420 gave complete responses to the questions asked. A majority of the respondents 322(79.5%) were not aware of epidural analgesia. Of the 83(20.9%) who were aware, 22.9% knew it was used to relieve labour pain and 20(24.1%) had first knowledge about epidural analgesia from health workers. A majority of the respondents 310(76.5%) would accept epidural analgesia if offered to them. The level of education and previous labour experiences were statistically significantly associated with awareness and acceptance of epidural analgesia respectively (p = 0.000). This study has shown that there is poor awareness and acceptance of epidural analgesia in labour in this environment which would be greatly improved by public enlightenment and counselling during ante-natal visits.