title: Women's prelabour preference for epidural analgesia: a cross-sectional study among women from the Netherlands and Belgium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study describes variables related to women's prelabour preference for epidural analgesia (PEA) in two neighbouring countries with a comparable socio-economic and cultural background.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dutch women in midwifery (n = 164) or obstetrical care (n = 162), and Belgian women (n = 188) of ≥36 weeks gestation with a singleton in cephalic presentation completed questionnaires on demographic factors, received labour analgesia information, perceived attitude of the caregiver towards epidural analgesia (EA), pain catastrophising and coping with labour pain. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed with PEA as dependent variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PEA was 9.9% in Dutch midwifery care, 25.5% in Dutch obstetrical care and 38.3% in Belgian care (p value < 0.001). In the Netherlands, maternal age of 35 years or older (OR 4.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.03-12.08), positive attitude of the caregiver towards EA (OR 5.83; 95% CI 2.57-13.23) and a lower degree of coping (OR 3.61; 95% CI 2.24-5.82) were independently associated with PEA. In Belgium, only a lower degree of coping was associated with PEA (OR 4.06; 95% CI 2.45-6.73).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In both countries, women with a lower degree of coping had a higher PEA. Care setting in the Netherlands was not an independent variable.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands. martine_wassen@hotmail.com
authors: Martine
authors: M
authors: Wassen
authors: Lieke
authors: L
authors: Miggiels
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Devlieger
authors: Wilfried
authors: W
authors: Gyselaers
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Mertens
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Hasaart
authors: Ella
authors: E
authors: Wijnen
authors: Paul de
authors: Pd
authors: Reu
authors: Frans
authors: F
authors: Roumen
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Nijhuis
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Smits
authors: Hubertina
authors: H
authors: Scheepers
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D001290:Attitude; D001530:Belgium; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008423:Maternal Age; D009426:Netherlands; D057240:Patient Preference; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires