Knowledge and Attitudes towards Epidural Analgesia among Women of Childbearing Age in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study to Identify Predictors through Multivariate Modeling

Awareness and Attitude Toward Epidural Analgesia During Labor Among Pregnant Women in Taif City: A Hospital-Based Study

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the awareness and attitudes towards epidural analgesia (EA) among pregnant women in Taif City, Saudi Arabia. The rationale was to identify potential barriers to the acceptance and use of EA, which is an effective pain management option during labor. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey at a single healthcare center in Taif City. The participants, pregnant women visiting the center, were recruited using a convenience sampling method. Data collection was facilitated by a questionnaire distributed through a quick response (QR) code. The questionnaire assessed demographic information, awareness levels, previous exposure to EA, and personal attitudes toward its use during labor. Data analysis focused on quantifying the levels of awareness and identifying patterns in attitudes. Results The results revealed a low level of awareness about EA among the participants, with a significant proportion having never been exposed to it before the survey. Attitudes towards EA were varied, with some expressing openness to its use and others displaying apprehension or resistance, which appeared to be influenced by cultural perceptions and a lack of information. Conclusions The study highlighted a substantial lack of awareness and varied attitudes towards EA among pregnant women in Taif City. Educational interventions are necessary to increase awareness and address cultural misconceptions. The study's limited scope and potential sample bias suggest the need for broader culturally tailored research to inform strategies for improving the acceptance and utilization of labor analgesia.

Factors Affecting Women's Attitudes Toward the Use of Epidural Anesthesia During Labor in Riyadh in 2023

Background Epidural analgesia (EA) is a type of central nerve block achieved by injecting a local anesthetic near the pain-transmitting nerves. It is commonly used to relieve pain during labor. The intensity of pain experienced and the effectiveness of pain relief can affect a woman's labor and delivery experience. Labor pain is a long-lasting and debilitating pain that women experience; therefore, pain relief techniques have become widely available. However, not all women are willing to use EA for pain relief. The factors that influence women's choices regarding EA should be explored. This study aimed to comprehend women's perspectives on EA in Riyadh and clarify the variables influencing their decision-making. Methodology A total of 336 women in their reproductive years participated in this study. An online questionnaire with five sections was used to collect data. The socio-demographic information in the first section covered age, level of education, occupation, income, marital status, pregnancy, maternity, and prenatal care. The second section focused on how painful labor was for women who had already given birth. The third and fourth sections discussed labor pain relief techniques, including epidural anesthesia. The final section assessed the participant's interest in receiving EA during the next delivery. Socio-demographic data were considered to be a predictor, whereas awareness levels and a desire to receive EA were seen as results. The information was cleaned, coded, and entered into SPSS version 29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The results are presented as frequencies and percentages. A Likert scale was used for data analysis. Statistical significance was established at p-values <0.05. Results In total, 336 Saudi women were included in this study, 86% of whom were between the ages of 30 and 35 years, and 69% of whom had a university education. One-third of the women (32%) had a monthly income of 10,000 to 20,000 SAR, and 55% of them had experienced three or more pregnancies. Fear of pain was the main reason for using epidural anesthesia in more than half of the participants given the choice. The most reinforcing factor was obtaining proper and sufficient information about EA, while the most restrictive factor was the fear of harming the infant. In particular, women aged 30-35 years (i.e., most of the included women) were commonly influenced by negative factors. Marital status and educational level played no significant role in women's use of EA. Conclusions Saudi women showed a good attitude toward EA. However, the awareness of EA was quite low. Fear of labor pain appeared to be the main reason for using EA. Health education programs on EA can increase the knowledge of and intent to use EA among women.

Women's Knowledge about Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Methods of Pain Relief in Labor

This study aimed to assess knowledge about non-pharmacological pain-relief methods in labor among women who have given birth at least once. This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey among 466 adult women. The minimum sample size was estimated based on the number of labor admissions in the year before the study in Poland. The survey included questions about respondents' sociodemographics and knowledge of pain-relief methods. The knowledge score was calculated using the sum of correct answers. Non-parametric Spearman's correlation, Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon variance tests were used. Antenatal classes (313/68.9%) and the Internet (248/54.6%) were the most common sources of knowledge. The most popular pharmacological pain-relief methods included epidural anesthesia (386/85.0%) and nitrous oxide (301/66.3%). Massage and breathing techniques were the most commonly known non-pharmacological methods (405/89.2% and 400/88.1%, respectively). The knowledge score about non-pharmacological methods was significantly higher as compared to the pharmacological methods score (r_c = 0.85; p < 0.001). Respondents' age correlated with knowledge about non-pharmacological methods (r_s = -0.10_,p = 0.026) but did not correlate with knowledge about pharmacological methods. Educational level correlated with knowledge about pharmacological (r_s = -0.13_,p = 0.007) and non-pharmacological (r_s = 0.14, p = 0.003) methods concerning pain relief in labor. No correlation was found between respondents' knowledge and gravidity, number of vaginal or cesarean deliveries, and hospital referral levels for previous deliveries. Our findings support the need to implement educational programs to increase evidence-based knowledge about pain-relief methods during labor in women.