Effect of massage therapy on pain severity and labor of primipara

ABSTRACT

Labor pain is a sort of pain experienced with most of the women. This pain is more and longer among primipara. This can result in invert effects such as fear, Loss of selfconfidence and anxiety. New supportive methods such as massage therapy can change labor to a pleasant event The present study is a quasi-experimental research titled ad " effect of massage therapy on pain severity and final result of labor in primipara woman". The subjects were hospitalized in two elective maternity hospitals in Tehran [2003]. Samples of the research were 60 primipara women having qualifications for the research. Sampling was done with convenient sampling. For data collecting, questionnaires and pain evaluation scales were used. Technique of massage was Effleurage that is a kind of Swedish massage exhibited for the first time in labor by Lindakimber. Before administrating any interventions, severity of pain was measured [in the beginning of active phase], in 4cm dilatation in two groups of women. Next, after massage therapy, severity of pain in 4, 8, 10cm dilatation of cervix was measured and compared with another group. Then, final result of Labor, duration of the phases 1,2 and type of labor in two groups, were compared and assessed. Research findings have been showed in table 15 and chart 7. For data analysis, SPSS software and descriptive and deductive statistical methods were used. The findings showed that there was a significant difference between mean pain severity in the first phase in massage therapy group and the control group in three initial phases of active phase [P=0.00q] and the beginning of transitive phase [P=0.014] and the end of first phase [P=0.01]. Duration of the first labor phase in groups of massage therapy and contrel was different. Results of cervix were decreased, in those group, which had massage therapy, compared with another group.This method is highly recommended as a non pharmacological method to decrease pain and duration of phase 1 babor and even to decrease fear and anxiety of normal labor in women.