Non-pharmacological interventions to reduce anxiety in pregnancy, labour and postpartum: A systematic review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions, including massage by partners, in reducing anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum.
Results Summary
The study found that massage by partners was one of the most effective interventions for reducing anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum, alongside other methods like behavioural activation and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Population
Pregnant and postpartum women, with some interventions involving their partners.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
behavioural activation | decrease | anxiety | women during pregnancy | - | most effective | #1 |
cognitive behavioural therapy | decrease | anxiety | women during pregnancy | - | most effective | #2 |
yoga | decrease | anxiety | women during pregnancy | - | most effective | #3 |
music therapy | decrease | anxiety | women during pregnancy | - | most effective | #4 |
relaxation | decrease | anxiety | women during pregnancy | - | most effective | #5 |
aromatherapy | decrease | anxiety | women during childbirth | - | most effective | #6 |
antenatal training | decrease | anxiety | women during pregnancy and postpartum | - | most effective | #7 |
massage by partners | decrease | anxiety | women during pregnancy and postpartum | - | most effective | #8 |
self-guided book reading with professional telephone assistance | decrease | anxiety | women during pregnancy and postpartum | - | most effective | #9 |
BACKGROUND: The anxiety mothers experience during pregnancy is well known and may have negative consequences for the emotional, psychological, and social development of newborns. Anxiety must therefore be reduced using different strategies. OBJECTIVE: To determine published non-pharmacological interventions to reduce anxiety during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. METHODS: A systematic peer-review of experimental and quasi-experimental studies was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), and CINAHL databases. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Spanish version of the PEDro scale. Two researchers participated independently in the data selection and extraction process. FINDINGS: 587 articles were identified, of which 21 met the eligibility criteria. In eleven studies the intervention was performed during pregnancy, in three of them during labour, in four of them during the postpartum period, and in three of them during pregnancy and postpartum. During pregnancy, the most effective interventions were behavioural activation, cognitive behavioural therapy, yoga, music therapy, and relaxation; during childbirth: aromatherapy; during pregnancy and postpartum: antenatal training, massage by partners, and self-guided book reading with professional telephone assistance. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The most effective interventions to reduce anxiety were performed either during pregnancy or during the postpartum period, not during labour. Most of the interventions were performed on the women, with few of them being performed on both partners. Non-pharmacological interventions may be applied by nurses and midwives to reduce anxiety during pregnancy, labour and postpartum.