INCIDENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF MODERATE TO SEVERE POST OPERATIVE PAIN AMONG PATIENTS UNDERGOING GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY IN NORTHWEST AMHARA REGION COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALIZED HOSPITALS, 2021

Abstract

Abstract Background: One undesirable but acknowledged consequence of surgery is pain. In women undergoing gynecologic surgery, postoperative pain can be severe, interfere with sleep and appetite, and can result in chronic pain. Even though gynecologic pain after anesthesia and surgery is a frequent complication, it is not well investigated in Ethiopia. Objective: - To determine incidence and associated factors of moderate to severe post-operative pain among patients undergoing gynecologic surgery in Northwest Amhara region comprehensive specialized hospitals. Methods: A multicenter cross sectional study was conducted to determine incidence and associated factors of moderate to severe post-operative pain among patients undergoing gynecologic surgery from April to June 2021. Data was collected by administering questionnaires via interview and reviewing the patients chart after taking consent. Numeric rating scale was used to assess pain severity. Logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for post-operative pain. Result: the incidence of moderate to severe post-operative pain after gynecologic surgery was 83.3% within the first 24 hours. On the multi-variable analysis, anxiety (AOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2, 5.1), being from urban areas (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2, 5.1), not having formal education (AOR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.3, 6.1), not taking preemptive analgesia (AOR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.3, 6.6) and surgical time of >= 60 minutes (AOR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.1,5.7) were significantly associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain after gynecologic surgery. Conclusion and recommendation: in this study, a large proportion of patients had experienced moderate to severe pain in the first 24 postoperative hours. Preoperative anxiety, being from urban areas, not having formal education, surgical time of >=60 minutes and patients with no preemptive analgesia were significantly associated with post-operative pain.