Patient profile and unmet needs of labour analgesia in the parturients undergo caesarean delivery on maternal request

Objective: The present study was aimed at exploring the patient profile and the unmet needs of labour analgesia in relation to caesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR) as a reason for it. Methodology: The departmental electronic database was searched for all the CDMR cases and was included. The anaesthetic management chart, pre-anaesthetic assessment chart, verbal interview records were reviewed for the study to complete the data as far as possible. Data were analyzed as a percentage and mean and standard deviation as applicable using INSTAT software. Results: There were 38 (2.64%) CDMR among the 1437 LSCS evaluated. Twenty four out of 38 (63.16%) of the patients were primigravida. 57.89% of CDMR had reason related to pain, fear, and anxiety. Medical comorbidity was associated and probably contributed as a reason for choosing CDMR in association with pain in 48.57% cases. 5.26% had received antenatal counseling for painless labour and 23.68% had prior knowledge of labour analgesia while only 2.63% asked voluntarily for it. Conclusion: Lack of knowledge about painless delivery & facilities, fear, anxiety, and previous bad experience are major reason for choosing “knife” than normal route of delivery. Higher education, parturients related to health care services and primigravida are more inclined to CDMR and needs to be targeted both for labour analgesia and for psychological counseling