Abstract

Background: This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and rate of request for labor analgesia among postpartum women in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife.

Methods: The study adopted a descriptive research design and a sample size of 164 was selected with purposive sampling method, and. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection among postpartum women after obtaining their informed consents and ethical approval. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.

Results: Findings show that more than half (53%) had a poor knowledge and 47% had a good knowledge regarding the use of pain relief in labor. In addition, their attitude was very poor (67.9%) and only 32.1% had a good attitude while 90.9% desired pain relief during their last labor. However, 19.5% reported to have requested for any pain relief during last labor and 70.3% reported not given labor pain relief promptly when they requested but 60.4% reported they would request for pain relief in their next labor. Hypothesis testing showed that there is a relationship between knowledge of labor analgesia and attitude towards it and between knowledge and rate of request for labor analgesia.

Conclusion: This study concluded that pregnant women poor knowledge of pain relief during labor. Therefore, there is a need for health interventions like health education programs at antenatal clinic aimed at providing detailed information on pain relief and formulation of policies that will ensure that pain relief measures are readily available for all.

KEY WORDS: Labor; Analgesia; Postpartum Women

Significance: The manuscript provided empirical data on the rate of request for labor analgesia and attitude of postpartum women toward labor analgesia.