Neuraxial Analgesia in Pregnant Hispanic Women: An Assessment of Their Beliefs and Expectations

BACKGROUND: The presence of racial/ethnic disparities in the use of neuraxial labor analgesia for childbirth has been previously described. The purpose of this study was to assess the childbirth pain management beliefs among a small sample of pregnant Hispanic women and to evaluate the Spanish translation accuracy of the Childbirth Pain Scale (CPBS). METHODS: To collect data, we interviewed 20 pregnant Spanish-speaking women using an interview guide, a demographic datasheet, and the CPBS a 15-item survey. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, translated, and uploaded to ethnograph v6. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Most of the participants were from Mexico (n=16) and Central America (n=4), mean age was 28.3, and all (n=20) spoke Spanish as their primary language. In this sample, 80% of nulliparous and 100% of multiparous women saw pain as having a positive role in delivery. Four major themes emerged from the data: Theme 1: Normalcy of childbirth pain (pain is good), Theme 2: Availability and role of pain medication, Theme 3: Naturalistic strategies to endure pain, and Theme 4: Fear of the unknown/childbirth process. In this sample, 18 of 20 women stated they did not want epidural analgesia unless medically indicated. During labor and delivery 100% of nulliparous and 25% of multiparas chose to receive epidural analgesia. No changes were requested by the participants regarding the translation of the CPBS. CONCLUSION: Childbirth pain was seen as a valuable component of the birthing process. The majority of participants believed pain medication should be avoided unless medically necessary. These results suggest that racial/ethnic disparities in the use of epidural analgesia may partially reflect patient beliefs and preferences. It is crucial to be aware of these differences to optimize shared decision-making for women in this vulnerable patient population.