Peridural analgesia: users versus refusers?

The present study investigates why some women, before and during delivering , request peridural analgesia or, on the contrary, refuse it. On the basis of a literature review and of an empiricial study involving 57 women, a psy chological differentiation is attempted to discriminate users from non-user s of peridural analgesia. Pain perceptions, health locus of control, when i nternal (IHLC), family and couple adaptability appear to be discriminating factors. Our results indicate a higher chance locus of control (externality ) in non-users then in users, as well as a more rigid couple functioning. T he incidence of Internal Health Locus of Control of pain perception is outl ined.