Knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers to provide analgesia for labour pain and vaginal delivery among healthcare providers at Muhimbili National Hospital.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Labour analgesia administration is an essential component of standard obstetric care. Using analgesia for labour pain relief is not common in Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. At Muhimbili National Hospital the practice of giving analgesia to a labouring woman is not commonly done despite the fact that health care providers are aware that many women are in need of it and they request analgesia when in labour. Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers to provide analgesia for labour pain and vaginal delivery among healthcare providers at Muhimbili National Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2023, written consent was processed and obtained from each healthcare provider before data collection and structured self-administered questionnaire was used, the collected data were coded and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics were computed to determine frequencies and percentages finally data were presented using texts and tables. Results: A total of 202 health care providers participated with majority being midwifes and anesthetists. Less than a half 87(43.1%) of the healthcare providers had good knowledge and about a third 74(36.6%) of the participants had good attitude towards provision of analgesia for labour pain and vaginal delivery. Less than a quarter 29 (14.4%) of the participants reported to provide analgesia for labour pain and vaginal delivery inconsistently and among them, the most common method 24(82.8%) was systemic (intravenous or intramuscular) analgesia. Most of the healthcare providers 175(86.6%) responded that “absence of clear guideline and protocol” that guide provision of analgesia for labour pain as a major perceived barrier for healthcare provider to deliver the service followed by “lack of knowledge” to administer analgesia 118(58.4%) and unawareness among healthcare provider 108(53.5%) on available choices of labour pain analgesics. Conclusion: Less than half of participants have good knowledge and attitude to provide labour pain analgesia and majority of the healthcare provider do not routine provide analgesia for labour pain.