Mohammed Raheel Minhas, Rehana Kamal, Gauhar Afshan, Hafsa Raheel.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of Parturients regarding epidural analgesia for labor in a university hospital in Karachi.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;55(2):63-6.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, sources of knowledge, attitude (fears and misconceptions) regarding Epidural Analgesia (EA) and practices of parturients delivery at Aga Khan University hospital (AKUH). Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted at the obstetric unit of AKUH, from November to December 2003. A questionnaire was filled through verbal interviews conducted on 448 parturients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Results: Seventy six percent of the females were aware of epidural analgesia as a labor pain relieving method. However, only 19% availed EA. About 40% had heard about EA from their obstetricians and 64% from friends or relatives. Twenty even percent believed that EA has detrimental effects on the baby while 9% stated that EA can prolong the duration of labor. Conclusion: Majority of the pregnant females delivering at Aga Khan University Hospital were aware of epidural analgesia for labour. However, only a small proportion are availing this service, due to fears and misconceptions (JPMA 55:63;2005).

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com