KAP study on Epidural Labor Analgesia at Kenyatta National Hospital

Labor pain is a complex and subjective interaction between multiple physical, physiological and psychological factorsthat women gothrough while giving birth naturally. Several methods of pain control have been used over the years to alleviate this pain.Epidural labor analgesia has been found to be the most effective method of pain relief during childbirth and the only method that provides complete analgesia without maternal or fetal sedation.It has become a milestone in obstetric analgesia and obstetricians worldwide know about it and use it. In the low to middle income countries however, the uptake of epidural labor analgesia is still low. This book, by looking at the obstetricians at the Kenyatta National Hospitals'knowledge on epidural laboranalgesia,attitude towards its routine useand how often they practiced it,tries to find out the reason behind the low uptake. This information could guide steakholders towards establishingfavorable epidural laboranalgesia practices.

Autorentext

Christine Apondi, MD is newly qualified anesthesiologist working at Kilifi county hospital. She is also a member of Kenya society of anesthesiologists.