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Table 2 Further questions regarding knowledge and attitudes regarding the use of pain relief in labor

From: A survey of healthcare providers’ knowledge and attitudes regarding pain relief in labor for women in Ethiopia

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