Practice of Non-Pharmacological Labor Pain Management and Associated Factors among Skilled Birth Attendants at Hospitals Found In Gondar Province, Northwest Ethiopia (2024 G.C): Mixed Study

Background Labor pain management involves both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. The main goal of non-pharmacological therapies is to assist laboring women in managing their discomfort. Although managing labor through non - pharmacological methods facilitates labor progression and promotes early initiation of breastfeeding, its practical application is not acknowledged in Ethiopia. Objective To assess practice of non-pharmacological labor pain management and associated factors among skilled birth attendants at hospitals in Gondar Province, Northwest Ethiopia, 2024. Method A mixed methods study was conducted from December 15, 2023, to February 5, 2024. Four hundred sixteen skilled birth attendants from 18 public hospitals were selected using the census-sampling method and purposive in quantitative and qualitative respectively. Data was collected with a structured self-administered questionnaire, observation checklist, and in-depth interviews. Epi Info version 7.3 and SPSS version 25 were used for quantitative data entry and analysis respectively. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was done for quantitative data. A P-value of < 0.05 was used as the criterion for statistical significance. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was done with NVivo version 14. Results The practice of non-pharmacological labor pain management is 50.5% (45.5–55.5). Profession knowledge (AOR = 2, 95% CI = 1.246–3.319) and attitude (AOR = 7.3, 95% CI = 4.583–11.821) were found to be significantly associated with the practice of non-pharmacological labor pain management. Resource and time constraints and infrastructural and training gaps were reported as reasons for the poor practice of non-pharmacological labor pain management. Conclusion and Recommendation: The practice of non-pharmacological labor pain management is not comprehensive. Professional knowledge and attitudes of the professionals are significantly associated with their practice of non-pharmacological labor pain Management. Health facilities need for comprehensive education, training programs, should be equipped with necessary resources, and should be developed to optimize workflow and prioritize comprehensive pain management support for laboring women.