Knowledge and expectations of labour pain and pain relief among primigravid women

We analysed knowledge and expectations of pain of labour and knowledge of labour analgesia methods among primigravida women attending an antenatal care clinic in a teaching hospital in a rural part of central India. The results of this study could be utilized to improve the analgesic care of women.

Material and method Qualitative analysis of data obtained from semi-structured interviews of 100 primigravida attending antenatal care. We studied previous painful experiences, knowledge and expectation oflabour pain, attitude towards labour pain, and knowledge of labour analgesia methods.

Results Patients were poorly informed about pain of labour. Many women appeared highly motivated concerning their ability to cope with labour. All the patients expected pain, many of them expected pain to be severe but had no concept of duration of the pain, and knew very little concerning methods available for pain relief in labour.

Conclusion Women attending antenatal care clinic in teaching hospital in rural part of central India were poorly prepared for the experience of delivery. Antenatal programmes should incorporate education concerning pain of labour and methods available to alleviate pain.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/slja.v21i2.4998