Effects of Using a Continuous Labor Support Program for the Duration of the First Stage of Labor in the Labor Room at Chaiyaphum Hospital.
Keywords:
continuous intrapartum support, first stage of labor, primigravida, social supportAbstract
This quasi-experimental research aimed to study the effects of a continuous labor support program on the duration of the first stage of labor (from true labor pain to full dilatation of cervix). The sample consisted of 72 primiparous women who gave birth in the labor room of Chaiyaphum Hospital from June to September 2024. The participants were divided into an experimental group (n=36) and a control group (n=36). The experimental group received support from a female relative having experience in vaginal delivery along with standard nursing care, while the control group received only standard nursing care. The research instruments included: 1) study tools, including a video, a guidebook, and an assessment form for the relative’s knowledge and skills related to labor support, and 2) data collection tools which included a personal information recording form and a pregnancy and labor information recording form. The content validity of the instruments was reviewed and validated by five experts, and had a content validity index (CVI) of 1.00. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, normal distribution comparisons were made using Fisher’s Exact Tests, and the non-normal distribution of labor duration was compared using Mann-Whitney U tests.
Research findings indicate that the continuous labor support program significantly shortened the duration of the transitional phase (cervical dilation of 8-10 cm) in the experimental group of first-time mothers, compared to the control group (p < .001). However, no significant differences were found in the total duration of the first stage of labor, the latent phase (cervical dilation of 0-3 cm), and the active phase (cervical dilation of 4-10 cm). Based on these findings, midwives should consider implementing the continuous labor support program for primiparous women to shorten the final phase of the first stage of labor and promote social network systems to encourage actively engagement in maternal care.
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