Labour pain experience and intensity: a Jordanian perspective

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Nursing and Midwifery
• Pain Management

Background:

• Labor pain is a significant concern for parturients worldwide.
• Effective pain management during labor is crucial for a positive childbirth experience.
• Current practices in Jordan may not adequately address labor pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess labor pain intensity and experiences among Jordanian women.
• To identify the prevalence of pain relief utilization during labor in Jordan.
• To evaluate the current roles of maternity nurses and midwives in labor pain management.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study involving 100 low-risk women who delivered vaginally.
• Utilized the Numeric Pain Intensity Scale (NPIS), a pain assessment questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire.
• Recruitment from a major hospital postpartum unit in Amman, Jordan.

Main Results:

• The majority of Jordanian women did not receive any pain relief during labor.
• Eighty-one percent of participants reported severe pain intensity (≥8 on NPIS, 0-10 scale).
• The mean pain intensity during the second stage of labor was 8.83.

Conclusions:

• Jordanian parturients frequently experience severe labor pain.
• There is a significant need to re-evaluate maternity nursing and midwifery practices for labor pain management in Jordan.
• Improving the supportive and educational roles of maternity care providers is essential.