Reducing Labor Anxiety with Auriculotherapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the effect of auriculotherapy on reducing labor anxiety.@*METHODS@#In this randomized clinical trial, 166 nulliparous pregnant women admitted to the Labor Ward of Izadi Hospital in Qom, Iran were included and assigned to two groups by randomized block design. In the intervention group (83 cases), auriculotherapy in "Shenmen, Thalamic, Zero, Brain, and Brain stem" was performed in dilatations of 4, 6 and 8 cm, between the contractions for 30 s in both ears at interval 1 h. While the control group received routine care. The Spielberger Inventory were completed pre- and post-interventions.@*RESULTS@#The auriculotherapy was effective to reduce anxiety state in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.001). The score of state anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 7.0, 8.0 and 11.0 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. The score of trait anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 3.8, 4.0 and 8.3 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. There was no significant difference of delivery mode and newborns' weight and Apgar score between groups (P>0.05). No adverse postpartum outcome such as hemorrhage has been observed in both groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Since most women are anxious during labor, it seems that auriculotherapy can be an easy and safe method to reduce labor anxiety. (Trial registration No. irct20121230011944n4).

The effect of group training on pregnant women's tendency about the method of delivery and pethidine consumption

Assisting parents in selection of appropriate method of delivery is one of targets of preparation classes of childbirth. Group training method gives mothers a chance to share their experiences and beliefs with each other and the midwife may provide them with high quality training by presenting them with correct information. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect group training on pregnant women's tendency about the method of delivery and pethidine consumption. In this interventional study, initially, after taking written consents, 85 participants attended group training. Moreover, 85 of the participants were provided with ordinary care in the control group. The classes were held for 1.5-2 h, every 2 weeks, with the participation of 10-15 mothers. Data were collected through demographic specifications, optional delivery method after training, and consequence of delivery questionnaires. Pain was measured by visual analog scale and statistical analysis was performed by X[2] test and t-test using SPSS for Windows 18.0. The results of the present study indicated that the presence of a significant difference in tendency for cesarean between the two groups after education [0.001]. Also, consumption pethidine during labor was significantly lower in the intervention group [0.001]. Group training was one of the appropriate methods for decreasing the number of tendency for cesarean operation and resulted in the reduction of natural labor pain and consumption of sedatives

[Pre marriage relationship: perspectives of male students]

Objective [s]: The objective of this study was to investigate on pre-marriage relationship between young adolescents from male students' perspectives

Method: This was a qualitative study of a sample of 20 male students. Focus group discussions were conducted to collect data. Content analysis was performed to explore the data

Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: motivation for pre-marriage relationship; facilitating and preventive sexual behaviors, reproductive health needs

Conclusion: Larger scale studies are needed to understand the topic more fully. However, as indicated by young male students there are different reasons for pre-marriage relationship between girls and boys. Such data could contribute to implementing more reproductive health orientated interventions in order to improve adolescents' health

Attitude of pregnant women, midwives, obstetricians and anesthesiologists toward mode of delivery: a qualitative study

To investigate the attitudes toward mode of delivery of pregnant women, midwives, obstetricians and anesthesiologists who participate in childbirth in Shahrood, Iran. This was a qualitative research with tri-angulations data collection strategy. The study sample was consisted of primiparous and multiparous women, midwives, obstetricians and anesthesiologists. A total of 18 women who seek prenatal care from Fatemiyeh obstetrics clinics during pregnancy, were asked to participate in 3 focus group discussions. 8 midwives in labour ward and clinic were interviewed individually. All of physicians were participate in study by Delphi method for data collection purpose. All interviews and discussions were tape recorded. The main themes were categorized into two main categories: [causes of intention to cesarean] and [causes of intention to vaginal delivery]. The main reason for intention to use cesarean was fear of pain due to vaginal delivery and the main reason for intention to use vaginal birth was fear of post cesarean pain and its morbidity. Other reasons that raise the cesarean section rate in Shahrood included, fear of legal complaints after vaginal birth complications fear of sexual disorders after vaginal birth, existing conflicts between midwives duties and obstetricians and negative attitudes. The results clearly show that although most of women and health providers do not consider cesarean section as the first option for delivery, but some essential obstacles remain as major reasons for increasing cesarean rate