Post-Delivery Pain Management: Assessing Nurses’ Knowledge of Nonpharmacological Approaches

Background: Effective post-delivery pain management is critical for maternal well-being. Pharmacological methods, while common, pose risks that make nonpharmacological approaches—such as massage, relaxation techniques, and heat therapy—safer alternatives. This study aimed to assess nurses’ knowledge of nonpharmacological pain relief methods and identify factors influencing this knowledge. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2024 to April 2025 in three maternity hospitals in Mosul, Iraq. Using convenience sampling, 110 nurses working in maternity-related units completed a validated questionnaire assessing demographics, work-related factors, and knowledge of nonpharmacological pain relief. Data were analyzed with SPSS v.28 using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: Only 30% of nurses correctly defined nonpharmacological pain relief. Knowledge gaps were evident, with only 31.8% recognizing physical methods and 16.4% understanding the physiological basis. Logistic regression showed that nurses with a Master’s degree (OR=2.1, p=0.012), in-service training (OR=3.5, p=0.001), and more than 10 years of experience (OR=1.4, p=0.008) had significantly higher odds of adequate knowledge. Over half (54.5%) reported availability of guidelines, though 45.5% lacked access. Most nurses worked 12-hour shifts (54.5%), which might affect implementation capacity. Conclusion: Nurses’ knowledge of nonpharmacological pain relief is suboptimal, highlighting gaps in training and institutional support. Targeted training, guideline dissemination, and policy support are urgently needed to improve postpartum care through safe and effective nonpharmacological pain management.