title: Knowledge and willingness of prenatal women in Enugu Southeastern Nigeria to use in labour non-pharmacological pain reliefs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nigerian parturients desire, but experience unsatisfactory pain relief as labour analgesia is underutilised and unpopular among skilled-birth attendants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess pregnant women's knowledge and willingness to use non-pharmacological labour pain reliefs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, a pre-tested, structured questionnaire was interviewer administered to a convenient sample of 245 prenatal women at a specialist maternity hospital in Enugu.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority (68.6%) of the women knew, but 31.4% were unaware that non-pharmacological labour pain reliefs exist in the study facility. Only 34.7% were able to identify at least four such methods, 21.2% could elicit two (each) advantages and disadvantages, and 0% to 28.3% had perceived self-efficacy of how to use each method. The leading four methods identified were breathing exercises (51.8%), massage (36.7), position changes (32.2%), and relaxation techniques (26.5%). Majority (59.6%) of the women expressed willingness to use non-pharmacological pain strategies in future labour, which is associated with increased knowledge of the methods, and parity (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnant women had limited knowledge of, but majority expressed willingness to use in labour non-pharmacological pain reliefs. Nurses/midwives should give adequate childbirth information and preparation on labour pain reliefs to antenatal women to inform their choices and effective use during labour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu Campus Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anarado
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu Campus Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Euphemia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu Campus Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Eunice
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nwonu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu Campus Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Anthonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chinweuba
authors.affiliation: Office of Global Health, University of Maryland, School of Nursing, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogbolu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D009549:Nigeria; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Knowledge; desire to use; labour pain reliefs; non-pharmacological; prenatal women