Knowledge and the sources of knowledge of spinal anaesthesia in primiparous women who have received a caesarean section

Abstract

Very little is known about the knowledge that South African women have concerning labour and anaesthesia, particularly spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section, and also which sources they can access to obtain this information. The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge and the sources of knowledge of spinal anaesthesia in primiparous women who had received a caesarean section at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH). The research design was a prospective, contextual, cross-sectional descriptive study. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and consisted of three categories: demographic data and antenatal care attendance, sources of knowledge and an assessment of the level of knowledge. A convenience sampling method was used to enrol 86 primiparous women over a 13 month period. Women’s scores for level of knowledge ranged from 3 (20%) to 13 (86.67%) out of 15. The mean score out of 15 was 7.84 (SD 2.12) which is 53%. When asked to choose a source of knowledge of spinal anaesthesia before admission to hospital, most women selected no information, 25 (29.07%), midwives, 13 (15.12%), and family and friends, 11 (12.79%). After admission to hospital, the anaesthetist, 29 (33.72%), the midwife, 18 (20.93%), and no information, 10 (11.63%) were the most commonly selected options. Neither age (p = 0.45), level of education (p = 0.84), sources of knowledge (before admission to hospital p = 0.84, and after admission to hospital p = 0.38), number of antenatal visits (p = 0.5) or urgency of the operation (p = 0.46) were found to have any statistically significant effect on the level of knowledge. From this study it can be concluded that primiparous women have a limited knowledge of spinal anaesthesia when presenting for caesarean section. Women often rely on “non-medical” sources of information, but midwives and anaesthetists are still common sources of information. Medical professionals are therefore ideally placed to improve women’s knowledge of spinal anaesthesia.