Effects of acupressure at LI4, He7, SP6 and Neima points on labor anxiety in nulliparous women: randomized clinical trial

Childbirth is a physiologic but stressful event in women's life. Anxiety during labor can affect pregnancy outcomes and causes pain and fear of childbirth. So, reduction of anxiety during labor was strictly recommended in various studies. Acupressure, against pharmacological methods, is a simple and cost-effective method which is limitedly investigated in childbirth. This study was performed with aim to investigate the effects of acupressure at LI4, He7, SP6 and Neima points on anxiety during labor in nulliparous women. This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 130 mothers who were hospitalized in delivery wards of Qazvin Razi hospital in 2018. They were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, stimulation of SP6 and Neima points was started in cervical dilatation of 4 cm and continued for 30 minutes, then in cervical dilatation of 8 cm, stimulation of LI4 and H7 continued by TENS until the end of delivery. Control group received routine obstetrics cares. Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was completed at the time of admission to delivery room and one hour after delivery. Data was analyzed by SPSS software (version 24) and Chi-square, independent t-test, Paired t-test. P Acupressure had a significant influence on mean score of state anxiety in experimental (33.7 ± 9.5) compared to control group (40.1 ± 9.9) (P = 0.001). Difference in mean score of trait anxiety in experimental (35.5 ± 8.2) compared to control group (39.08 ± 7.7) was statically significant (p=0.04). Stimulation of LI4, H7, SP6 and Neima points is effective in decreasing state and trait anxiety in nulliparous women and is recommended as one of the methods for treatment of anxiety in pregnancy and childbirth.