Lesotho midwives' utilization of non-pharmacological pain management methods during the first of stage labour.

The purpose of this study was to determine the use of non-pharmacologic methods of pain management used by midwives in Lesotho. The research design was non-experimental and of a descriptive nature. The data was obtained by means of a structured questionnaire which was compiled after a thorough literature analysis was done. Midwives, working in the Maternity wards of the Christian Hospital Association of Lesotho as well as the government Hospitals completed the questionnaires. All data was analysed on a nominal descriptive level. According to the results, the midwives indicated that they were taught non-pharmacologic methods of pain management, however they expressed that they inadequately use these methods during the first stage of labour due to shortage of staff, lack of privacy and space, a high midwife-mother ratio, culture and hospital policies. In the light of these findings, recommendations were made of maximizing the use of non-pharmacologic methods during the first stage of labour.