Country↑ | Epidural Rates | Multiparous | Nulliparous | Year | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belgium | 63% | 82% | 2013 | ||
Canada | 57.8% | 2016 | |||
China | 16.7% | 2019 | |||
Denmark | 17% | 40% | 2013 | ||
Finland | 59% | 83% | 2013 | ||
Iceland | 32% | 59% | 2013 | ||
Ireland | 38% | 64% | 2013 | ||
Malta | 15% | 40% | 2013 | ||
Netherlands | 10% | 30% | 2013 | ||
Norway | 23% | 51% | 2013 | ||
Sweden | 19% | 45% | 2013 | ||
United Kingdom | 11% | 19% | 2013 | ||
United States | 64% | 79% | 2013 |
An epidural is a medical technique in which medication, most often an anaesthetic, is injected into the patient’s lower back near the spinal cord. Epidurals are used frequently in some countries to help pregnant women endure the pain of childbirth, as well as in several additional medical circumstances. Epidurals are used in a significant percentage of the total number of births in the world each day.