Midwives perceptions of partner presence in childbirth pain alleviation in Nigeria hospitals.
OBJECTIVE
partner presence in the labour room can influence childbirth pain outcomes and maternal well-being. We examined midwives' perception of the use of partner presence in the management of childbirth pain in Nigerian hospitals.


METHODS
a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study.


METHODS
maternity units of four hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria, Jun.-Dec., 2014.


METHODS
100 midwives selected through convenience sampling.


METHODS
data collected using the Abuja Instrument for Midwives (AIM) questionnaire underwent frequency, correlation, and content analysis.


RESULTS
most midwives felt partner presence contributed to pain relief and were willing to allow partner presence as an intervention for childbirth pain. However, only every fourth midwife reported using partner presence as a pain management intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
partner presence is perceived as contributing to pain relief and is a non-pharmacological technique reported to be utilised by midwives for pain management during childbirth. However, Nigeria suffers from poor utilisation of partner presence as a pain management intervention during childbirth.


CONCLUSIONS
information from this study can improve midwifery practice and aid further research regarding midwives' attitudes, knowledge and usage of partner presence in pain management during childbirth.
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: abigail.emelonye@uef.fi.
Abigail Uchenna
AU
Emelonye
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Kuopio University Hospital (KUH), P.O. Box 100, FI 70029 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: katri.vehvilainenjulkunen@uef.fi.
Katri
K
Vehviläinen-Julkunen
Kuopio University Hospital (KUH), P.O. Box 100, FI 70029 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: taina.pitkaaho@kuh.fi.
Taina
T
Pitkäaho
Institute of Public Health and Clinical Research, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: alex.aregbesola@uef.fi.
Alex
A
Aregbesola
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D009549:Nigeria; D057240:Patient Preference; D011247:Pregnancy; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Childbirth pain; Midwives; Nigeria; Partner presence; Perception; Survey