Midwives' utilization of nonpharmacological pain relief measures for labor pain management: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study sought to examine midwives' utilization of nonpharmacological pain relief measures in labor pain management and to test the relationship between midwives' knowledge and utilization of nonpharmacological pain relief measures for labor pain management in secondary health facility in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used for the study. The study was rooted in Katherine Kolcaba's Comfort theory. Totally, 67 participants were recruited for the study using the purposive sampling technique. A self-made structured questionnaire was used to obtain participants' information on knowledge, utilization, and predictors of nonpharmacological pain relief measures. Results: Although 41 (61.2%) of the participants had knowledge about nonpharmacological pain relief measures, few did not know some of the cognitive-behavioral and environmental measures in labor pain management. There was 35.8% (24/67) for utilization of cognitive-behavioral measures and 55.2% (37/67) for psychological/emotional measures for labor pain management by respondents, respectively. Fifty (74.6%) of respondents agreed that predictors such as lack of knowledge, lack of updates and training, work experience, best practice guidelines, and equipment were hindrances to utilization. There was statistically significance in relationship between the level of knowledge and utilization of nonpharmacological pain relief measures (r = 0.6, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The utilization of nonpharmacological measures for labor pain management is low, thus it is recommended that frequent education, training updates on effective labor pain management, provision of clinical guidelines on labor pain management, and enrichment of midwifery training curriculum are imperative to ensure quality labor pain management and positive health outcome.