INTRODUCTION
However, fulfilling as it may be, childbirth is a painful experience for many parturients [1, 2, 3, 4]. Among the various forms of labour pain management, epidural labour analgesia is by far the gold standard technique [4, 5]. This suggests that epidural labour analgesia is worthwhile since it effectively relieves labour pain. Despite the many advantages of epidural labour analgesia, it has not been fully accepted and is not routinely practised in health facilities in developing countries [6]. The low patronage of epidural labour analgesia services could partially be attributed to lack of awareness, limited resources or lack of equipment such as patient monitors, local anaesthetics or analgesics and overwhelming patient numbers [6, 7].
Labour analgesia is the most effective method for restoring normal uterine activity [8]. Relieving pain during childbirth decreases blood stress hormone release and thereby increase tissue perfusion in healthy parturient [7]. Multiple randomized controlled trials comparing epidural analgesia with other forms of labour pain management have demonstrated adequate maternal pain relief and higher maternal satisfaction among the epidural group [9]. Developed countries are challenged with the choice and complications of epidural labour analgesia, whereas in developing countries, the issue revolves around awareness, acceptability, and availability of epidural labour analgesia service [10]. In Ghana, epidural labour analgesia services are not readily available at the maternity units. Recently, teams of medical volunteers from the USA found problems related to understanding and the appropriate use of pain control during childbirth at one of Ghana’s largest obstetric units. At the delivery unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, we recently introduced epidural labour analgesia service and observed very low patronage. Many parturients in Ghana go through childbirth without labour pain control. Severe labour pain can have deleterious effects on both the mother and the fetus [11]. Availability and high patronage of epidural labour analgesia at the maternity units in Ghana may help reduce maternal related complications. This study aimed to investigate determinants of woman’s choice for epidural labour analgesia use at the delivery unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.