Knowledge, attitude, and practice of labor analgesia in antenatal women in India: An observational study

Background: The concept of labor analgesia is widely unknown to the antenatal women and parturients in the Indian medical setup. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of labor analgesia in antenatal women visiting the antenatal clinic in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: One hundred twenty women in the antenatal period between the age group of 18 and 40 years attending the antenatal clinic were included in the study. A Google form-based questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistical Analysis: Ordinal and nominal data were presented as numbers and percentages. Bar diagrams and pie charts were used for graphical representation. Results: Twenty-one (17.5%) respondents, out of 120, were aware of labor analgesia. Among the rest 99, 13 participants did not have knowledge nor they wanted to gather information further. Out of 86 unaware respondents, 62 (72.1%) were interested in acquiring the knowledge of labor analgesia and rather would be comfortable if the treating obstetrician imparts the information; 46 (53.5%) of them wanted the information to be imparted during the obstetric consultation sessions and 10 (11.6%) respondents considered the best time for gathering awareness for labor analgesia at, or after the onset of labor pain. The major concerns of the respondents for labor analgesia were the safety of their health and the effect on the baby. Conclusions: Awareness of labor analgesia in Indian antenatal women is low. The treating obstetrician should impart knowledge regarding labor analgesia in the pre- and antenatal period which should be supplemented with more emphasis during the prelabor period.