The efficacy of Trans-cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) with psychological supportive intervention on pain and maternal -neonatal outcomes of childbirth in pregnant women referring to Maternity ward

The factors which lead to a reduction in pain and length of labor with minimal intervention have always been of interest to researchers. The present study was performed aimed to compare the effect of TENS with psychological supportive intervention on labor pain and maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women referring to the maternity ward.

This clinical trial study was performed in 2021 on 90 pregnant women admitted to the delivery block of Payambar Azam hospital of Kerman. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups of TENS (n=30), psychological supportive intervention (n=30) and control (n=30). In the active labor phase, TENS was applied for the TENS group, the psychological supportive intervention was performed in the counseling group, and routine care was performed for the control group. Scores of pain during the active phase of labor (4 cm and 10 cm dilatation) and maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared in the three groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software (version 21) and Fisher's exact and variance analysis tests. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

There was no significant difference between the three groups in the scores of labor pain in 4 cm dilatation, maternal complications, Apgar scores 1 and 5 minutes, and type of delivery (p> 0.05). However, the score of pain in 10 cm dilatation in the TENS group and counseling group similarly was significantly reduced compared to the control group. The duration of the first stage of active phase labor was not significantly different between the three groups (p> 0.05), but the difference between the duration of the second stage of the active phase and the total duration of the active phase was significant between the three groups (p >0.05).

Both methods of psychological supportive counseling and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are equally effective in reducing labor pain and length of labor; considering the safety of both methods, it is recommended to use these two methods to facilitate the birth process.