The effect of lavender aromatherapy on pain intensity during the active phase of the first stage of labor
Keywords:
active phase of labor, labor pain, lavender aromatherapy, midwifery care, non-pharmacological therapyAbstract
Labor pain during the active phase of the first stage is a multidimensional experience caused by uterine contractions, cervical dilation, cervical effacement, and fetal descent. Uncontrolled pain may increase maternal fear, anxiety, catecholamine release, and perceived discomfort during childbirth. Lavender aromatherapy is a simple non-pharmacological intervention that may support relaxation and pain modulation through olfactory stimulation and limbic-system responses. This study aimed to determine the effect of lavender aromatherapy on pain intensity during the active phase of the first stage of labor among women giving birth at Motoboi Kecil Community Health Center, Kotamobagu City. This quasi-experimental study used a two-group pretest-posttest design. Thirty women in the active phase of the first stage of labor were recruited by total sampling and assigned to an intervention group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Pain intensity was assessed using the Bourbanis Pain Scale observation sheet. The intervention group received lavender aromatherapy, whereas the control group received routine care. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test. In the intervention group, mean pain intensity decreased from 6.80 ± 0.775 to 5.67 ± 0.900 (p = 0.003). In the control group, mean pain intensity increased from 5.47 ± 1.992 to 7.60 ± 1.352 (p = 0.001). The post-test comparison showed a significant difference between groups (p < 0.001). Lavender aromatherapy effectively reduced the intensity of labor pain during the active phase of the first stage and may be considered as a complementary intervention in midwifery care.
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