Public attention related to epidural labor analgesia in mainland China: Evidence from internet search data

The Baidu index (BDI) is a publicly available data platform that reflects search volume and user attention trends based on massive behavioral data from its users. Utilizing this tool, this study aimed to investigate the public search trends and level of understanding regarding "epidural labor analgesia (ELA)" in mainland China. Data were collected from January 1, 2016 to October 16, 2024, to analyze search volumes and related search terms. The influence of 2 pivotal events was also assessed: the issuance of the government's "Notice on Labor Analgesia Pilot Work" promoting ELA, and a widely publicized maternal suicide incident linked to unrelieved labor pain. Search volume for ELA showed a fluctuating upward trend from 2016 to 2018, followed by a steady decline from 2019 that persisted until 2024. The release of the "Notice" was associated with a statistically significant increase in the BDI (P < .01). Conversely, following the maternal suicide incident, the average BDI for ELA demonstrated a significant decreasing trend (P < .01). Analysis of the top related search terms revealed that public attention was predominantly focused on general childbirth themes, such as alternative delivery methods ("episiotomy") and the intensity of "pain experienced during childbirth." In contrast, searches for ELA-specific themes, including "the effects of ELA," "the cost of ELA," and "why not promote ELA," were relatively scarce. This pattern indicates a limited and nonspecific public understanding of ELA. In conclusion, the BDI proves to be a valuable infodemiology tool for monitoring public interest in health topics. The identified gap between general childbirth queries and targeted ELA searches highlights a significant knowledge gap. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted health education campaigns and supportive policy initiatives to improve public awareness and acceptance of epidural analgesia, thereby facilitating more informed decision-making during childbirth.