[ survey of the effects of olive oil and saj cream on striae gravidarum in the second trimester of pregnancy]

ABSTRACT

Striae gravidarum appears in many pregnant women and it creates aesthetic concerns among them. This study was done with the aim of determination of the effects of olive oil and Saj cream on the occurrence of striae gravidarum in the second trimester of pregnancy. This study was a randomized trial. The study sample included 105 nulliparous women in their second trimester of pregnancy. All the women were in their 18th -20th week of pregnancy and refered to health centers of Tehran. Two intervention groups applied Saj cream [n=30] or olive oil [n=30] and control group [n=30] did not apply any creams. Data was collected by interview and observation and analyzed using SPSS-PC [v.13]. Striae manifested among 40% of those taking olive oil, 16.7% of those using Saj cream and 56% of those in the control group. There was a significant difference between the two intervention groups and the control group [P<.006]. The findings of this study indicated that application of Saj cream during the beginning of pregnancy to the end of the second trimester had been effective in reduction of striae gravidarum. Studies investigating the effect of other herbal oils on prevention of striae are recommended