Improving Health for Better Future Life: Strengthening from Basic Science to Clinical Research
Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Health, Technology and Life Sciences (ICO-HELICS III), Banung, Indonesia, 19-20 November 2022
The Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture for Treating Labor Pain in Primary Healthcare : A Premilitary Study
S. Handayani (Department of Anatomy and Embryology Faculty of Medicine Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta), M.N.D. Kartikasari (Diploma III of Midwifery Vocational School, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia), E.L. Suparyanti (Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta, Indonesia), A.G. Moelyo (Department of Paediatric Dr. Moewardi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta), I. Kusumawati(Griya Husada 2 Primary Health Clinic, Karanganyar, Indonesia), F. Muhammad (Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia), V. Kushare (Anatomy Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
ABSTRACT: Labor pain is caused by nociceptor activation following ischemia by dis- tension lower part of the uterine and cervix. The majority of women experience pain during childbirth. However, not all women feel the same way. Additional therapy can be used to alleviate labor pain. Electroacupuncture (EA) is a modern variation of acupuncture that uses electrical energy. It has been proven to reduce nociceptors activation-causing pain. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of EA on labor pain. This experimental study was conducted for two months in Indonesian primary healthcare. A total of 11 women received EA thrice at the minute of 15, 30, and 60 during their active first stage until the second stage of delivery. The needle insertion points were LI4, ST36, SP6, and several uterine innervation-associated segmental points. EA used 2/100 Hz alternating frequency and 0.1–0.3 mA intensity with 20 minutes adjustment. Numbering Analog Scale (NAS) was used to evaluate the amount of labor pain. The results showed a significant decrease in NAS between pre-intervention and 15-minute post-intervention (7.909 0.700 vs. 6.909 0.539, p = 0.005). NAS pre-intervention also significantly reduced after 30 and 60- minute intervention (p = 0.001). However, there was no further significant decrease in NAS from 30-minute to 60-minute post-intervention (4.909 0.831 vs. 4.454 0.522, p = 0.383). There were no prolonged second stage of delivery, post-partum hemorrhage (PPH), and neonate asphyxia to be reported. EA is effective and significant for reducing labor pain, strengthening uterine contractions, and accelerating the second stage of delivery, as no side effects were reported. It also can be applied in primary healthcare as EA is a simple medical device and widely available.