Labour pain experiences and perceptions: a qualitative study among post-partum women in Ghana

Lydia Aziato,Angela Kwartemaa Acheampong,Kitimdow Lazarus Umoar

doi:10.1186/s12884-017-1248-1

Lydia Aziato, Angela Kwartemaa Acheampong + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1248-1

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Abstract

BackgroundWomen have experienced severe labour pain over the years and various attempts have been made to effectively manage labour pain. However, there is paucity of literature on the labour pain experience and perceptions about labour pain with the contemporary Ghanaian health system. Therefore this study sought to gain an in-depth understanding on labour pain experiences and perceptions of post-partum women.MethodsThe study adopted an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach and collected data through individual interviews. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants who were purposively sampled. After transcription of interviews, the data were analyzed inductively using content analysis techniques.ResultsWomen in this study experienced pain during labour rated as mild, moderate and severe and the pain was felt at the waist area, vagina, lower abdomen and the general body. The women expressed labour pain through crying, screaming and shouting. They prayed to God to help reduce the severe pain. Some women endured the pain, cried inwardly and others showed no sign of pain. Some women believed that crying during labour is a sign of weakness. Pain reliefs such as pethidine (Meperidine) was occasionally given. Non-pharmacologic measures employed included walking around, deep breathing, side-lying, waist holding, squatting, taking a shower and chewing gum. The individuality of pain experience and expression was emphasized and the socio-cultural orientation of women made some of them stoic.ConclusionWe concluded that it is necessary for all health professionals to manage labour pain effectively taking the socio-cultural context into consideration.

Highlights

Women have experienced severe labour pain over the years and various attempts have been made to effectively manage labour pain
Study design An exploratory descriptive qualitative approach was used to gain an in-depth understanding of the labour pain experiences and perceptions of women in this study since much is not known about the phenomenon in Ghana
The findings were described on themes such as: Labour pain location and intensity, Labour Pain Expression, Perceptions of women on labour pain expression, Experiences related to labour pain relief measures, Experiences of women on support from family and midwives during labour pain and Women’s experience of negative attitudes of midwives

Summary

Introduction

Women have experienced severe labour pain over the years and various attempts have been made to effectively manage labour pain. Most women perceive labour pain and childbirth as most severe and agonising event of a woman’s existence [1, 2]. There are no underlying pathological processes, labour is linked with a painful experience [5], so a lot of women are worried about labour pain and how they can be relieved of pain [6, 7]. The women express pain through crying and screaming [14, 15]. Obuna & Umeora [20] revealed in Nigeria that ignorance of existing pain relief by women and cultural prejudice accounts for inadequate demand for labour pain relief.

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Conclusion