Efficacy of “Pharmacological and Non-Pharmaceutical” Pain Reduction Training and Spouse Training on Labor Anxiety in Pregnant Women

Labor pain causes severe maternal anxiety that ultimately leads to abnormal uterine contractions and interference with optimal delivery process. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of “Pharmacological and Non-Pharmaceutical” pain reduction training and spouse training on labor anxiety in pregnant women.

The research method was quasi-experimental (pre-test and post-test) with control group. The study population included all pregnant women who were in late second trimester or early third trimester and had anxiety according to Hartmann labor anxiety questionnaire. Among study population referring to health centers in Tehran, 80 subjects were selected by convenient sampling and were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. Research data were collected by Hartmann Labor Anxiety Inventory. The experimental group received 2 sessions of 90-minute of pain reduction training and spouse training during pregnancy. During the two training sessions, pregnant women`s husbands were physically present. However, the control group did not receive any training and continued to go through normal pregnancy and childbirth process. Data were analyzed by covariance analysis through SPSS software.

The results showed that pain reduction training and spouse training was effective in decreasing anxiety in pregnant women, encouraging them to attempt vaginal delivery. The mean score of labor anxiety in experimental group was lower than the control group after the intervention, and the difference was statistically significant (P >0.001).

Pain reduction training and spouse training during pregnancy can be used by specialists as an educational approach to reduce the anxiety of pregnant women, drive them to prefer vaginal delivery rather than cesarean section, and help the mothers create a suitable environment for development of children mental health services.