Positive Health Online

Abstract

CHANG and colleagues, National Tainan Institute of Nursing, Tainan, Taiwan, evaluated the effects of massage on anxiety and reaction to pain during labour.

Background

Massage has been used since ancient times during labour, but its effects on women during labour have received little formal study. It may represent a useful adjunctive intervention to other forms of pain relief.

Methodology

This controlled study was conducted between September 1999 and January 2000 at a regional hospital in southern Taiwan. Subjects were 60 primiparous (first-time pregnant) women expected to have a normal childbirth. During labour, the women received either massage or no massage in a randomized manner. Labour pain was assessed using the nurse-rated Present Behavioural Intensity (PBI) scale. Anxiety was measured on the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VASA). Intensities of pain and anxiety were measured in the latent phase (cervix dilated 3-4 cm), the active phase (5-7 cm) and the transitional phase (8-10 cm) of labour.

Results

Pain intensity and anxiety levels increased fairly steadily in both groups as labour progressed. The massage group had significantly lower pain reactions in the latent, active and transitional phases than the no-massage group. Only during the latent phase did anxiety levels differ significantly between the two groups. 87% of women in the massage group (26 out of 30) reported massage to have been helpful in providing pain relief and psychological support during labour.

Conclusion

The results indicate that massage is a cost-effective nursing intervention that can reduce pain and anxiety during labour. In addition, the partner’s participation in massage can have a positive effect on the quality of a woman’s birth experience.

References

Chang MY et al. Effects of massage on pain and anxiety during labour: a randomized controlled trial in Taiwan. Journal of Advanced Nursing 38 (1): 68-73.