Investigating the Effects of Aromatherapy with Citrus Aurantium Oil on Anxiety During the First Stage of Labor

Anxiety is the most common psychological response of women who are in labour. One method for alleviating anxiety is aromatherapy in which natural oils are used to stimulate the olfactory system that leads to calmness and reduce the feeling of tension. Citrus aurantium is one of the oils uses in Aromatherapy. The present study was carried out on the basis of the effects that the pleasant smell of citrus aurantium had on nulliparous women during their first stage of labor. This clinical trial study has been done on 126 nulliparous women who were admitted to Valie-Asr hospital in Tuyserkan in 2013. 4ml of both، citrus aurantium distillate and normal saline were impregnated with gauze. Then they were attached to collars of subjects in the aromatherapy and control groups، respectively. This prescription was repeated every 30 minutes. Afterwards، the level of anxiety at baseline and after the intervention at dilations of 3-4 and 6-8 cm was measured. anxiety was measured with Spielberger questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22، independent t-tests، Mann-Whitney، chi-square tests، Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and exact fisher test. P values less than 0. 05 were considered significant. Before intervention، the mean level of anxiety was 55/16± 1/247 in intervention group and 61/86±1/327 in control group that was not statistically significant. The mean anxiety severity score after the intervention in intervention group with dilatation 3-4 cm (45. 32 ± 1. 216)، and 6-8cm (43. 19 ±1. 664) decreased significantly)P<0. 05 (compared with control group in dilatation 3-4 cm (56. 38 ± 1. 128)، and 6-8cm (59. 32 ± 1. 584). After the intervention، the mean level of anxiety in intervention group with indilatation 3-4 cm was (45. 32 ± 1. 216)، and in 6-8cm was (43. 19 ± 1. 664) which had decreased significantly)P<0. 05 (in comparison with control group with dilatation 3-4 cm (56. 38 ± 1. 128)، and 6-8cm (59. 32 ± 1. 584). Using Citrus aurantium in aromatherapy is a simple، inexpensive and non-invasive intervention that can be effective in reducing anxiety during labor.