PERCEPTION, PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF LABOR PAIN MANAGEMENT AMONG OBSTETRIC CARE PROVIDERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN HARARI REGION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Although labor pain can be effectively managed using pharmacological or non pharmacological methods, it is often neglected in low-resource settings, like Ethiopia. Studies on providers‟ perception and practice about labor pain management are minimal. Objective: To assess perception, practice and associated factors of labor pain management among obstetric care providers in public health facilities in Harari Region, Eastern Ethiopia from November 15– November 30, 2020. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among all obstetric care providers working in labor and delivery units in public health facilities in Harari Region. Data were collected by self-administered using pretested structured questionnaire. The data were entered by EpiData 3.1 then analyzed using SPSS 25. Both bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression was computed to identify factors affecting practice of labor pain management. Association was described using adjusted ratio along with 95% confidence interval. Finally, p-value < 0.05 was considered as a statistically significant association. Results: Of a total of 234 respondents, 70.9% of them have positive perception and 69.7% reported offering some form of labor pain management in the past four weeks. Gender (AOR=2.68; 95% CI 1.45-7.71) and year of experience (AOR=3.36; 95% CI 1.47-7.71) were independently associated with offering of labor pain management methods. Conclusion: More than two-third of obstetric care providers in our study reported offering some form of labor pain management. Female obstetric care providers and those with more than ten years of experience were more likely to offer labor pain management.