The effect of peri-neal massage and two-stage hot peri-neal compress applied to primiparous women in labor on peri-neal trauma, peri-neal pain and labor satisfaction; a randomized controlled trial

This study is a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of perineal massage and two-stage hot perineal compress on perineal trauma, perineal pain and labor satisfaction in primiparous women during labor. The study sample consisted of 180 primiparous pregnant women admitted to Mardin Training and Research Hospital. The study consisted of three groups: perineal massage (n=60), two-stage hot perineal compress (n=60) and control group (n=60). Pregnant women were randomly assigned to the groups. When cervical dilatation was 6 cm and 10 cm, perineal massage was applied 4-6 times for at least 5-10 minutes to pregnant women in the perineal massage group and 1 time for at least 15 minutes in the two-stage hot perineal compress group. Pregnant women in the control group received only routine midwifery care The data were collected through Personal Information Form, Visual Comparison Scale (VSS), Perineal Trauma and Hemorrhage Follow-up Measurement Form, Visual Satisfaction Scale (VSS), and Delivery Satisfaction Scale (DSS). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0 package program was used to evaluate the data obtained from the study. Data were analyzed using Chi-Square, Fisher's Exact, independent simple t test, paired sample t test, One Way ANOVA and Tukey test. The mean age of the women who participated in the study was 25.35±5.412 years and the mean gestational age was 38.70±1.200 weeks. Perineal trauma was less (p<0.001), perineal pain was lower (p<0.001), and labor satisfaction was higher (p<0.001) in primiparous women with and without perineal massage. Perineal trauma was lower (p<0.001), perineal pain was lower (p<0.001), and labor satisfaction was higher (p<0.001) in primiparous women with and without two-stage hot perineal compresses. There was no difference in perineal trauma between women who received perineal massage and two-stage warm perineal compress at delivery (p=0.509), there was a difference in perineal pain and the pain score was lower in the two-stage warm perineal compress group (p<0.001), there was a difference in labor satisfaction and labor satisfaction was higher in the two-stage warm perineal compress group (p<0.001). As a result of the study, it was found that perineal massage and two-stage hot perineal compress applications decreased perineal trauma and perineal pain and increased labor satisfaction (p<0.05). Based on these results, these applications can be safely applied to pregnant women who do not carry any risk because of their positive contributions in labor. Keywords: labor, birth satisfaction, perineal massage, perineal trauma, warm compress