Awareness of Epidural Analgesia Among Childbearing Women in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Labor pain is one of the most excruciating experiences that women can go through. Epidural anesthesia (EDA) is the most prevalent form of labor analgesia considered as a secure and effective method of pain relief for women during active labor. The EDA works by numbing the nerves that cause pain. To our knowledge, only a few studies have been conducted on the use of EDA in Saudi Arabia. Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness of EDA among childbearing women in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional study using a self-administered online questionnaire to measure awareness about EDA. The study targeted the general population of women from the western region of Saudi Arabia who were aged between 18 and 50 years. A total of 1,137 questionnaires were returned and analyzed. Results This study assessed the perspectives of 1,137 women. The results revealed that 52.6% of women who received EDA showed a good level of knowledge of the procedure, while 26.1% of women had not experienced EDA (P = 0.001). Good knowledge of EDA was detected among 39.3% of women aged 36-50 years. This rate was significantly higher than that of women younger than 20 years old, of which 24.3% had good knowledge (P = 0.038). Conclusion This study shows that women in this particular region have a lack of knowledge about EDA. Therefore, it is recommended that more education about EDA be provided during antenatal visits to improve awareness.