Predictors associated with low-risk women's pre-labour intention for intrapartum pain relief: a cross-sectional study

Kuipers, Yvonne J.; van Beeck, Elise

Abstract

Background: Pregnant women have preferences about how they intend to manage labour pain. Unmet intentions can result in negative emotions and/or birth experiences.

Objective: To examine the antenatal level of intention for intrapartum pain relief and the factors that might predict this intention.

Design: A cross-sectional online survey-based study.

Setting and participants: 414 healthy pregnant women in the Netherlands, predominantly receiving antenatal care from the community-based midwife who were recruited via maternity healthcare professionals and social media platforms.

Methods: The attitude towards intrapartum pain relief was measured with the Labour Pain Relief Attitude Questionnaire for pregnant women. Personality traits with the HEXACO-60 questionnaire, general psychological health with the Mental Health Inventory-5 and labour and birth anxiety with the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale. Multiple linear regression was performed with the intention for pain relief as the dependant variable.

Results: The obstetrician as birth companion (p<.001), the perception that because of the impact of pregnancy on the woman’s body, using pain relief during labour is self-evident (p<.001), feeling convinced that pain relief contributes to self-confidence during labour (p=.023), and fear of the forthcoming birth (p=.003) predicted women were more likely to use pain relief. The midwife as birth companion (p=.047) and considering the partner in requesting pain relief
(p=.045) predicted women were less likely to use pain relief.

Conclusion: Understanding the reasons predicting women’s intention of pain management during labour, provides insight in low-risk women’s supportive needs prior to labour and are worth paying attention to during the antenatal perio.d

Citation

Kuipers, Y. J., & van Beeck, E. (2022). Predictors associated with low-risk women's pre-labour intention for intrapartum pain relief: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 4, Article 100070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2022.100070

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 18, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Feb 19, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Deposit Date: Feb 24, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 24, 2022
• Journal: International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances
• Print ISSN: 0020-7489
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Article Number: 100070
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2022.100070
• Keywords: Antenatal, Childbirth, Intention, Labour, Maternity services, Pain relief
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2848425