KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF SAUDI WOMEN TOWARD PAINLESS LABOR, AND MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of Saudi women toward painless labor, and misconception about the risks and complications . Method: A cross-sectional study included 386 Saudi woman, was selected randomly. the study conducted using a questionnaire consisted of three sections; the first section was regarding demographic data, while the second section was to assess the women knowledge toward painless labor, and the third section was to assess the women attitude toward painless labor. Results: 36.7 % availed epidural analgesia in their previous deliveries. 95% heard about the epidural analgesia to reduce the pain of labor. 50.1% have positive attitude towards epidural analgesia. 60.9% did not discuss available birth options with the doctor. 53.9% preferred natural childbirth as method of birth. 32.1% will never use any of the anesthetics in their next births. Conclusion: There was a good level of knowledge and positive attitude towards the epidural analgesia among Saudi women, but there was low prevalence of epidural analgesia using among Saudi women. Introduction:-Most women have exprinsed the most painful pain during vaginal delivery. Those who experienced have described the pain of labor with terms such as distressing, overwhelming, horrible, traumatic or excruciating during the first stage of labor and even worse during the second stage despite its short duration. (1) Nowadays, the concept of painless labor is ahot topic with a variation on different biological, social, and ethnic characteristics in modern medicine.(2) There are various methods to painless labor, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments protocols are used to relieve labor pain such as opioids, epidural analgesia, hypnosis, or acupuncture.(2) However, the most effective method for pain less vaginal delivery is Epidural Analgesia, which is a technique of injecting a combination of local anesthetic and opioid analgesic into the lumbar epidural space.(3) It was first used in 1949, it became the gold standard after its popularity in the early 80s, and sine then it's the only method that provides complete analgesia without maternal or fetal sedation. (1)