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Article type :

Original Article

Author :

Jewel John, Hiba K, Miriam George Fenn, Anna Mathew*, John Michael Raj

Volume :

9

Issue :

3

Abstract :

Aims: A randomised Controlled trial to assess the role of an individualised introduction to labour given after 37 weeks of gestation in allaying anxiety prior to delivery and birth satisfaction, in primi-gravidas Materials and Methods: After obtaining approval from ethics committee, antenatal mothers, booked for delivery in this hospital, who gave written informed consent, were randomized to Group A (Interventional group) and Group B (comparator group). The Anxiety Assessment Scale for Pregnant Woman in Labour (AASPWL) was administered to all participants at first contact in the antenatal clinic, after 37 weeks of gestation by the investigator. The post-intervention AASPWL questionnaire was administered to all participants in the first stage of labour by a blinded assessor. The birth satisfaction of all participants was assessed after delivery using the Birth Satisfaction Scale (BSS) by a blinded assessor in the ward. Results: The difference in mean anxiety score measured in the first stage of labour and during antenatal visit (>37 weeks of gestation) in Group A and Group B was analysed. It was found that the two groups were homogenous, but the increase in anxiety during labour was less in group A compared to group B, however, the difference was not statistically significant. The Birth Satisfaction Scale score in the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the comparator group (p Conclusion: An individualised structured introduction to labour reduced the AASPWL scores in first-time parturient mothers who received the intervention, compared to mothers who did not receive the intervention. This reduction, however, was not statistically significant. We also found that the individualised structured introduction to labour enhanced the birth satisfaction of first-time parturient mothers, measured by the Birth Satisfaction Scale (BSS) significantly and resulted in higher scores in the subdomains of the BSS.