A narrative inquiry into women’s perception and experience of labour pain: A study in the western region of ghana
There is a general notion among Ghanaian women that the labour is a painful process that must be endured. Regardless of this notion, labour pain experience overwhelms most women. The aim of this study was to inquire into women’s perceptions and experience of labour pain and how women cope with pain....
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2015-01-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139115000268 |
| _version_ | 1811206914718040064 |
|---|---|
| author | Evelyn Asamoah Ampofo Vera Caine |
| author_facet | Evelyn Asamoah Ampofo Vera Caine |
| author_sort | Evelyn Asamoah Ampofo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a general notion among Ghanaian women that the labour is a painful process that must be endured. Regardless of this notion, labour pain experience overwhelms most women. The aim of this study was to inquire into women’s perceptions and experience of labour pain and how women cope with pain. Using the narrative inquiry methodology, five low risk pregnant Ghanaian women; two nulliparous and three multiparas were purposefully selected. Tape-recorded conversations, writing of field notes and journals were used as the main source of data collection before delivery and within one week after delivery. The women’s perception of pain before and after delivery was used to construct narrative accounts from which the findings of the study were generated. To ensure credibility of each narrative account, the interim narrative accounts constructed by the researcher were sent to the women to read and respond to. The findings revealed that before the labour experience, women perceived labour as a painful experience expected to be endured. Antenatal education on labour pain management was inadequate. Additionally use of pain relief methods was lacking although women expressed need for pain relief. Furthermore the findings revealed inadequate physical and emotional support for women in labour to help cope with labour pain. In conclusion the researcher recommends that midwives in consultation with clients adopt a more active method of assessing labour pain. Also antenatal education on pain relief options must be provided. A more conscious effort to provide support for women in labour should be promoted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:56:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-642750602d7e47f9b03068daba6eac72 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-1391 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:56:08Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-642750602d7e47f9b03068daba6eac722022-12-22T03:48:50ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences2214-13912015-01-013C869310.1016/j.ijans.2015.10.001A narrative inquiry into women’s perception and experience of labour pain: A study in the western region of ghanaEvelyn Asamoah Ampofo0Vera Caine1School of Nursing, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaFaculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, CanadaThere is a general notion among Ghanaian women that the labour is a painful process that must be endured. Regardless of this notion, labour pain experience overwhelms most women. The aim of this study was to inquire into women’s perceptions and experience of labour pain and how women cope with pain. Using the narrative inquiry methodology, five low risk pregnant Ghanaian women; two nulliparous and three multiparas were purposefully selected. Tape-recorded conversations, writing of field notes and journals were used as the main source of data collection before delivery and within one week after delivery. The women’s perception of pain before and after delivery was used to construct narrative accounts from which the findings of the study were generated. To ensure credibility of each narrative account, the interim narrative accounts constructed by the researcher were sent to the women to read and respond to. The findings revealed that before the labour experience, women perceived labour as a painful experience expected to be endured. Antenatal education on labour pain management was inadequate. Additionally use of pain relief methods was lacking although women expressed need for pain relief. Furthermore the findings revealed inadequate physical and emotional support for women in labour to help cope with labour pain. In conclusion the researcher recommends that midwives in consultation with clients adopt a more active method of assessing labour pain. Also antenatal education on pain relief options must be provided. A more conscious effort to provide support for women in labour should be promoted.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139115000268Narrative inquiry labourPainPerceptionExperience |
| spellingShingle | Evelyn Asamoah Ampofo Vera Caine A narrative inquiry into women’s perception and experience of labour pain: A study in the western region of ghana International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences Narrative inquiry labour Pain Perception Experience |
| title | A narrative inquiry into women’s perception and experience of labour pain: A study in the western region of ghana |
| title_full | A narrative inquiry into women’s perception and experience of labour pain: A study in the western region of ghana |
| title_fullStr | A narrative inquiry into women’s perception and experience of labour pain: A study in the western region of ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | A narrative inquiry into women’s perception and experience of labour pain: A study in the western region of ghana |
| title_short | A narrative inquiry into women’s perception and experience of labour pain: A study in the western region of ghana |
| title_sort | narrative inquiry into women s perception and experience of labour pain a study in the western region of ghana |
| topic | Narrative inquiry labour Pain Perception Experience |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139115000268 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT evelynasamoahampofo anarrativeinquiryintowomensperceptionandexperienceoflabourpainastudyinthewesternregionofghana AT veracaine anarrativeinquiryintowomensperceptionandexperienceoflabourpainastudyinthewesternregionofghana AT evelynasamoahampofo narrativeinquiryintowomensperceptionandexperienceoflabourpainastudyinthewesternregionofghana AT veracaine narrativeinquiryintowomensperceptionandexperienceoflabourpainastudyinthewesternregionofghana |