“A PRE-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ABDOMINAL EFFLEURAGE ON LABOR PAIN INTENSITY AMONG PRIMIPARA MOTHERS DURING 1ST STAGE OF LABOR IN SELECTED HOSPITALS OF DISTT. MOHALI, PUNJAB.”

Abstract

Childbirth is considered to be one of the crucial events in a woman’s life. Treating pain is important because coping with pain influences the birthing experiences as is the most excruciating pain that every mother has to bear while giving birth. The role of the health care provider is to handle the parturient with immense care. With this aim, the study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of abdominal effleurage on labor pain intensity among primipara mothers during 1st stage of labor in selected hospitals of Distt. Mohali, Punjab. Quantitative approach with a Pre Experimental One Group Pre-test Posttest Research Design was used. By using non-probability purposive sampling technique, 35 primipara mothers undergoing 1st stage of labor were selected from Dr. B.R Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Science, phase 6, Mohali, Punjab in the month of June 2023. Data was collected by using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Likert scale to assess the level satisfaction of primipara mother after abdominal effleurage and Structured Record analysis Performa for maternal and fetal outcome. Findings of the study revealed that majority 17 (48.6%) primipara mothers were between age group of 26-29 years, 33 (94.3%) primipara mothers belong to Hindu religion, 20 (57.1%) primipara mothers were married, 18 (51.4%) had secondary education, 14 (40%) worked as private employees, 14 (40%) had monthly income between Rs.40,001/- and above, 22(62.9%) belonged to urban area and 22 (62.9%) were between 37-38 weeks of gestation. During Active phase of 1st stage of labor, the mean pre-test pain score was high (6.29±1.888) whereas mean post-test pain score for the same group was less (3.11±1.762). Calculated paired 't' value (t ( 0.05) = 7.294 , <0.001) was highly significant at 0.05 level. Hence, the research hypothesis was accepted. During Transition phase of 1st stage of labor, the mean pre-test pain score was high (6.97±1.823) whereas mean post-test pain score for the same group was less (5.6±1.333). Calculated paired 't' value (t ( 0.05) = 3.505, <0.001) was highly significant at 0.05 level. Hence, the research hypothesis was accepted. In active phase, there was no association of pre-test pain scores with age, religion, marital status, educational status, occupational status, family income per month, residential area and present period of Gestation whereas in transition phase, there was an association of pre-test pain scores with occupational status. In active phase, there was no association of post-test pain scores of selected maternal and fetal outcomes with duration of 1st stage of labor, nature of labor, show, membranes, color of liquor amnii, mode of delivery, the newborn is born, newborn cried immediately after birth, APGAR score at 1 min after birth and level of satisfaction after abdominal effleurage whereas in transition phase, there was an association of post-test pain scores seen between selected maternal and fetal outcomes with mode of delivery. Hence, it was concluded that the abdominal effleurage was effective to reduce the labor pain intensity to some extent.