Epidural analgesia and related ethical issues among pregnant women: Literature review

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to review the literature regarding epidural analgesia and related ethical issues among pregnant women. METHOD: The authors were searched many electronic databases (CHINAL, Ovid Midline, Pub MED and Google Scholar, Science Direct Database, Biomed) under the following keywords (Informed consent, epidural analgesia, pregnant women, and antenatal period). The several quantitative studies published in English were reviewed and analyzed. The authors were analyzed the studies using a literature review matrix subheading to author, years published, type of study, variables, design and methodology, finding, conclusion, limitations for practices and limitations for studies. RESULTS: The themes that emerged from the literature review were: difference between patient and provider in perceptions of informed consent toward EA during childbirth process; factors affecting the women choice of using EA during childbirth process and awareness regarding using of EA in childbirth among women in antenatal clinics. CONCLUSION: The process of signing of informed consent for EA in women during childbirth is linked to many ethical responsibilities from women and healthcare providers. The informed consent practice can be enhanced by putting greater emphasis on antenatal information, providing suitable timing of information and developments in recent methods of information release and transfer.