Positive Health Online

Abstract

YI and COLLEAGUES,  (1)College of Public Health, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Horqin District, Tongliao, China; (2)Department of Hygienic Toxicology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical; University, NanGang District, Harbin, China; (3)Medical College, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Horqin District, Tongliao, China; (4)Hohhot Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Huhhot Center for Disease Control and Prevention Building, Jinqiao Development Zone, Huhhot, China; (5)Disease Control And Prevention, Health commission, Horqin District, Tongliao, China conducted a systematic review comparing the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments for outcomes of different stages and labour pain among pregnant women.

Background

This systematic review compared the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments for outcomes of different stages and labour pain among pregnant women.

Methodology

Eight databases were electronically searched for TCM on labour pain between January 2012 and January 2022. The studies were recorded and screened according to inclusion criteria and subsequently entered in Note Express. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and network meta-analysis was conducted with Stata 16.0. Forest plots and league tables were used to compare different treatment modalities' effect sizes. Additionally, the probabilities of various treatment modalities for each outcome under the cumulative ranking curve were determined. The protocol was registered  in PROSPERO (CRD42022336091). This study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines.

Results

Thirty articles encompassing 3277 participants were included in the network meta-analysis with 9 different treatment modalities. In terms of pain of labour at 30 minutes, acupuncture + autonomic nerve block was the most effective treatment modality. With regard to the 60-minute pain and the first stage of labour, acupressure + acupuncture therapy was most effective.

Conclusion

In general, a combined treatment with acupressure and acupuncture is the most effective approach for relieving labour pain and shortening the duration of labour. Based on these data, we intend to explore further clinical TCM therapy for relieving maternal pain. Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Conflict of interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

References

Yi Y(1)(2), Ju W(1), Fu D(3), Chen R(4), Bai X(1), Zhang S(5). Effect of traditional Chinese medicine therapy on labor pain in patients with natural childbirth: A network meta-analysis Medicine (Baltimore).  ;103(43):e39425. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000039425. Oct 25 2024.