Utilization of Pain Relief in Labor and it’s Associated Factors Among Midwives in Selected Hospitals in Oyo State, Nigeria

Background: Pain during labor is a significant and unpleasant experience for women, making effective pain management essential in obstetric care. Midwives are instrumental in providing pain relief during labor. Objective: This study aimed to determine the utilization of pain relief during labor by midwives in selected hospitals in Oyo State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design with purposive sampling was used for recruitment. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, with a 0.75 reliability index, and analyzed using SPSS version 22 at a 5% significance level. Results: Most midwives (61%) had above-average knowledge regarding labor pain relief, while 64% showed a positive attitude towards its use. About 82.5% of midwives occasionally used pain relief during labor. Influencing factors included knowledge (80%), information availability (80%), lack of training (76.3%), inadequate equipment (85%), and affordability (66.3%). The use of pain relief was significantly related to the socio-demographic characteristics of midwives: age (0.76), education level (0.0082), and years of experience (0.73). Conclusion: This study highlights the positive aspects of midwives' knowledge and attitudes concerning pain relief. However, the gap between knowledge and utilization suggests a need for interventions focused on developing skills, addressing resource limitations, and sharing information. These efforts can optimize pain management practices and empower midwives to provide more effective pain relief for laboring women.