The effect of GB21 acupressure on pain intensity in the first stage of labor in primiparous women: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION

Labor pain is one of the most intensive pains experienced by women; it results in physical, emotional, and physiological changes in women's body. The present study aimed to examine the effect of GB21 acupressure on labor pain.

DESIGN

In this randomized clinical trial, 174 primiparous women in their first stage of labor were selected and assigned to three groups: GB21 acupressure group (n = 58), sham group (n = 58), and control group (n = 58).

INTERVENTIONS

The acupressure and sham groups received routine labor care and acupressure in three different phases of cervical dilations to 3-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-10 cm. The control group received routine care in labor.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Pain severity was measured using a pain scale ruler in three cervical dilations before and after intervention. The collected data were analyzed using the ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, paired-t test and Mann-Whitney tests.

RESULTS

Pain reduction was significantly higher in GB21 groups compared with sham and control groups (P = 0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed between the three groups in terms of delivery outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, GB21 acupressure was effective in pain relief during labor, hence recommended as a practical, effective, inexpensive, and accessible method for labor pain management.