Predictors and prevalence of labor pain management practice at West Guji zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2024

Childbirth is a painful experience for most women, and many require assistance with pain relief. Strategies for managing labor pain include both non-pharmacological and pharmacological intervention. Childbirth is a painful experience for almost all women. The pain that women experience during labor is affected by multiple physiological and psychosocial factors and its intensity can vary greatly. Most women in labor require pain relief. This study aimed to evaluate the practices of managing labor pain and the factors associated with them among obstetric caregivers in public health facilities in West Guji, Southern Ethiopia, in 2024. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A simple random sampling method was used to select 280 participants for the study. Data collection was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, along with binary and multiple logistic regressions were utilized for analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval were calculated to evaluate the strength of the associations, and statistical significance was determined at a p-value of less than 0.05. The Prevalence of labor pain management practices among obstetric care providers in the study location was 43.3%. The factors which were statistically significant in relation to labor pain management practices, included: holding a diploma (AOR, 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.6), knowledge of obstetric analgesia (AOR, 6.4; 95% CI: 5.8, 9.9), and the belief that pharmacologic obstetric analgesia affects labor (AOR, 2.9; 95% CI: 1.4, 6.2). Although the level was higher than in some studies, a significant gap remains, and training and knowledge are vital for improvement. The knowledge gained from holding a diploma, along with awareness of obstetric analgesia and the impact of pharmacological options on labor, were factors influencing labor pain management practices. Therefore West Guji Zone Health Department: Should create awareness concerning labor pain management practice.