Sociodemographic factors associated with request for labor epidural analgesia in a tertiary obstetric hospital in Vietnam

Abstract Background Labor epidural pain relief remains underutilized in developing countries and may serve as a marker of health care access disparity. Here we examine the sociodemographic factors associated with the utilization of labor epidural analgesia at a large obstetrics and gynecology hospital in Vietnam.Methods This was a cross-sectional study of women who underwent vaginal delivery in September 2018 at the Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Utilization of epidural analgesia during labor was determined. Univariate and multivariate regression models were applied to evaluate the association between patient demographic and socioeconomic factors and request for labor epidural analgesia.Results A total of 417 women had vaginal deliveries during the study period. 207 women (49.6%) utilized epidural analgesia for pain relief during labor and 210 did not. Parturients more likely to utilize labor epidurals were older than 35 years of age (OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.11-8.17), multiparous (OR 2.8 95% CI 1.85-4.25), from an urban area, with higher income (OR 6.47, 95% CI 2.59-19.23), and with higher level of education.ConclusionsFactors related to a parturient’s request for epidural analgesia during labor at our tertiary obstetric hospital included include age greater than 35 years, multiparity, and high income and education levels. Educational outreach to women about the benefits of epidural analgesia can target women who do not share these demographics.