THE EFFECT OF AROMATHERAPY WITH SALVIA OFFICINALIS ON THE SEVERITY OF LABOR PAIN IN NULLIPAROUS WOMEN

Labor pain has always been a major concern of midwifery practice. Approach to the use of non-pharmacological methods of pain relief has been improved a lot in recent two decades. The purpose of this study was to determinate the effects of Salvia Officinalis on the severity of labor pain in nulliparous women. 104 nulliparous women referred to the hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences have been randomly divided into two equal groups. Salvia Officinalis and control group (52 persons in each group). Each group used vapour mask for 15 minutes.The severity of labor pain was determined by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 30 mns before, and 60 minutes after the intervention of aromatherapy. Apgar score as well as the method of delivery were determined one, and five minutes after delivery. The mean of the severity of the pain 30 minutes after the intervention was lower than before the intervention in the Salvia aromatherapy group, which was statistically significant (p=0/001). The mean of the severity of the pain 60 minutes after the intervention was not statistically significant. Results of the research showed that aromatherapy didnt have any effect on Apgar score, and the method of delivery. The results of this study emphasizes on the beneficial effects of aromatherapy on decreasing of the labor pain.