The Effect of Aloe Vera Ointment on the Intensity of Perineal Pain following Episiotomy: A Randomized Blind Clinical

Background and Aloe vera has long been used as a medication of many diseases but the research approving its analgesic effects are not many. Since the effect of its ointment on episiotomy pain has been investigated, we intended to determine the effect of aloe vera ointment on the pain intensity of episiotomy among primiparous women. Methods and Materials: This blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 74 primiparous women, having the inclusion criteria, admitted to Lolagar hospital in Tehran, Iran; the participants were continuously assigned into two groups by random allocation: experimental (using the aloe vera ointment) and control (routine medication). The experimental group (37 women) consumed Aloe vera ointment 3cc / 60 mg every 8 hours; and the control group (37 women) consumed the hospital routine care (Povidone Iodine) for five days. Data collection instruments were a demographic questionnaire and VAS scale, for recording the pain intensity before application, 4 and 8 hours and 5 days after application in both groups. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS 16 using independent t-test and chi-square. Mean pain score of the experimental and control groups before application of aloe vera ointment were 6.24±1.57 and 6.02±1.77 respectively, which reduced to 1.86±1.45 and 3.97±2.19 respectively five days after intervention; the difference between the two groups was significant (p<0.01); however, the pain score four hours after application was not significant. Aloe vera ointment can be used in episiotomy wound care to reduce the pain intensity and the need for pain killers.