Effectiveness of Reflex Zone Therapy on Pain and Lactation among the Post Caesarean Mothers at selected hospital, Puducherry

Abstract

Introduction: One of the greatest events in every woman’s life is being a mother although it is a happiest movement the child birth is physically painful this also affects the mother to feed her baby. Rise of the caesarean delivery at global level is more. Pain prompts people to seek health care more often than any other problem. Pain is commonly the result of nociception which is the most influencing factor for Lactation. Reflex Zone Therapy is a noninvasive and non-pharmacological method for pain relief, can also bring about the wisdom of well-being and health which helps in increasing lactation. Methodology: In this study quantitative approach and quasi experimental two group pre-test post-test research design was used. The setting was postoperative ward and the sample size were 60 (30 in experiment and 30 in control group) selected through purposive sampling technique. Tool description was developed under three sections i.e., section A consists of demographic and obstetrical variables, section B consists of Universal pain assessment tool and Section C consists of Modified Latches Breastfeeding Assessment Check List. Result: study finding shows that the comparison of per-test and post-test level of Pain within the experimental group, the pre-test mean score was 25.36±1.73 and posttest mean score was 16.0±2.06. The t value was 25.33 at p>0.001. In the comparison of experimental and control group the mean score of post-test level of pain was 16±2.06 and 25.76±1.73 respectively, post-test level of lactation shows mean score of 157.7±11.05 and 135.1±8.92 respectively where t=8.68 and p=0.000. The correlation of posttest level of pain and lactation shows r= -0.17 and p value was 0.35. Association of demographic and obstetrical variables none of the variables shows statistical association with the level of pain. In the level of Lactation, Birth weight of the baby shows statistical association, where p>0.01. Conclusion: The study result proved that the effectiveness of Reflex Zone Therapy has reduced the level of Pain and improved the Lactation among the Post Caesarean mothers in the experimental group. So, this method of procedures can be used among the Post Caesarean mothers to promote the level of Lactation and relieve the mother from Pain during the first 3 to 5 days after delivery without any medical prescription and side effect in their day to day activities in hospital settings.