Table 2.
Further questions regarding knowledge and attitudes regarding the use of pain relief in labor
| Question | Response | % | n |
|---|---|---|---|
| • What level of pain would you expect them to experience? (n = 164 answered) |
No pain | 0 | 0 |
| Mild | 15 | 25 | |
| Moderate | 33 | 54 | |
| Severe | 52 | 85 | |
| Total | 100 | 164 | |
| • Why do you think pain relief should be relieved? (n = 152 answered) (Please tick ALL that apply) |
To relieve pain | 66 | 100 |
| To relieve stress | 51 | 78 | |
| To feel confident | 31 | 47 | |
| To enjoy the experience | 34 | 52 | |
| • Why do you think pain relief should not be relieved? (n = 40 answered) (Choose MOST relevant) |
Labor is a natural process | 40 | 16 |
| It will make labor longer | 20 | 8 | |
| It will affect the baby | 18 | 7 | |
| Will cause complications | 22 | 9 | |
| Total | 100 | 40 | |
| • What types of methods of pain relief do you routinely recommend/practice? (n = 137 answered) (Please tick ALL that apply) |
None | 7 | 10 |
| Personal coping ability | 57 | 78 | |
| Breathing exercises | 44 | 60 | |
| Back massage | 64 | 88 | |
| Support from family | 68 | 93 | |
| Warm bath | 21 | 29 | |
| Tablets for pain relief | 18 | 25 | |
| Injectable pain relief | 23 | 31 | |
| Regional analgesia | 6 | 8 | |
| • What are the main barriers for patients to receive analgesia in labor? (n = 86 answered) (Please tick ALL that apply) • Why do you have concerns with using pain relief? |
Lack of awareness of patients | 16 | 14 |
| Lack of awareness of medical professional | 25 | 21 | |
| Cultural norms | 12 | 10 | |
| Pain relief is not a priority for laboring mothers | 18 | 16 | |
| Financial constraints | 12 | 10 | |
| Availability | 3 | 3 | |
| a) It will affect the baby (n = 79 answered) (Choose MOST relevant) |
It will affect the baby’s breathing | 57 | 45 |
| It will affect bonding | 33 | 26 | |
| It will affect breast feeding | 10 | 8 | |
| Total | 100 | 79 | |
| b) It will affect the labor (n = 99 answered) (Choose MOST relevant) |
It will stop contractions | 23 | 23 |
| Make the labor unnatural | 17 | 17 | |
| Affect the mothers ability to push | 33 | 32 | |
| Increase vacuum delivery | 11 | 11 | |
| Increase Caesarean section | 13 | 12 | |
| Total | 100 | 99 | |
| c) It will affect the patient (n = 42 answered) (Choose MOST relevant) |
Physical side effects | 71 | 30 |
| Patients may feel loss of control | 29 | 12 | |
| Total | 100 | 42 |