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Assessment of Maternal Satisfaction and Associated Factors Regarding Epidural Labor Analgesia at Hemen Medical Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2023/24): A Facility Based Cross-Sectional Study

Adugna Kassa
a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:22:"Addis Ababa University";}
Tsehaynew Desalew
Wosenyeleh Admasu
Addis Ababa University
Dr. Zufan Lakew
Tigist Bekele
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  • Submited: September 28, 2024
  • Published: June 30, 2025

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Although labor epidural analgesia is considered the most effective method of pain relief and its use is increasing in Ethiopia, maternal satisfaction with this technique has not been assessed in our country. The growing demand for enhanced healthcare quality underscores the importance of evaluating patient satisfaction. Understanding maternal satisfaction with labor epidural analgesia is crucial, as it provides insights into the quality of care and identifies factors contributing for dissatisfaction.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the level of satisfaction of mothers toward labor epidural and to identify factors associated with it in pregnant mothers who received labor epidural analgesia at Hemen Maternal and Child Health Center.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who had received epidural analgesia for delivery from May to November, 2023. Data were collected from volunteer mothers who gave birth using labor epidural 1 day after delivery and before they are discharged. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The level of satisfaction was measured using a 5-point Likert Scale. Descriptive statistics was used to present frequency and percentages, and a logistic regression was conducted to analyze the association between dependent and independent variables.

Results: One hundred and fifty mothers age ranging from18 – 37 years were included in this study. The rate of satisfaction with the Labor epidural analgesia service was 98%. We couldn’t find any association between level of satisfaction and independent variables, mainly due to lack of a sizable comparative group, a small subset of dissatisfied patients (only 2%).

Conclusion: The magnitude of satisfaction with Labor Epidural Analgesia service at Hemen MCH is remarkably high. The use of a customized labor epidural analgesia protocol, developed based on feedback and self-reflections from previous techniques, is a possible reason for the high satisfaction rate.

 

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How to Cite
Kassa, A., Desalew, T., Admasu, W., Lakew, D. Z., & Bekele, T. (2025). Assessment of Maternal Satisfaction and Associated Factors Regarding Epidural Labor Analgesia at Hemen Medical Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2023/24): A Facility Based Cross-Sectional Study. Ethiopian Medical Journal, 63(2). Retrieved from https://emjema.org/index.php/EMJ/article/view/2741

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