EFFECTS OF THE APPLICATION OF A PSYCHOPROPHYLACTIC METHOD DURING THE PARTURITION PROCESS ON THE PAIN, THE ANXIETY AND THE CORTICOTROPHIN HORMONE RELEASE

Abstract

Psychoprophylactic techniques for childbirth were evaluated in the immediate nursery attendance for mother inlabor. It was evaluated the techniques effect on pain intensity and anxiety levels, as well as on the corticotrophinhormone (ACTH) release. It was studied mother participation in different phases of childbirth labor and childdelivery, her vision on nursery psychoprophylactic assistance before delivery, and her perception on labor. Traceand state of anxiety, pain intensity and plasma ACTH levels were determined. Experimental research was carriedout with a quantitative and qualitative approach at a Public Maternity Hospital of the City of Goiânia in the State ofGoiás, Brazil. The sample consisted of thirty six primigravidas women that didn´t receive childbirth preparatoryclasses. Nineteen parturients received both individual nursery and labor psychoprophylactic assistance(experimental group – GE) while seventeen parturient received only maternity routine assistance (control group -GC). For both groups, Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) application and, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) wereperformed, as well as peripheric blood sampling and immediate postparturition interview. Results allowed toconclude that: 1. Psychoprophylactic techniques for immediate assistance to GE group have demanded theiractive participation and effective nurse intervention. Better parturient performance, relief to pain sensation,encouragement to feel labor process, with increase of positive opinions over normal child delivery, were promoted.A lower level of anxiety for a larger period of time, when considered the absolute values, was also observed; 2.Significant attributes to the assistance received during labor reflected the importance of the direct parturientassistance and childbirth preparation, even if in the immediate antecedent period; 3. High variability of ACTHplasma levels in both groups was observed, with no statistical difference between them. Correlation betweenACTH levels and the anxiety state, neither between ACTH levels and the pain intensity were not observed.