Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Nursing Care Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran;
2
Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran;
3
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran;
4
Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
5
Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
10.30476/ijcbnm.2025.102876.2515
Abstract
Background: Fear and anxiety of the pain caused by childbirth is the main resistance of women against
natural childbirth; therefore, women prefer cesarean delivery. The utilization of non-pharmacological
treatments can make the childbirth process pleasurable for the mother. This study aimed to determine
the effect of chewing gum on anxiety and labor pain intensity in primiparous women.
Methods: This randomized controlled study was conducted in two public health centers (Babol, Iran) from
May 2021 to October 2022. The participants comprised 116 primiparous women with a gestational age of
38–42 weeks and a diagnosis of labor pain. The pregnant women were subjected to block randomization
and allocated to two groups of 58 patients. The intervention group received chewing gum for 20 minutes
in the three stages, including dilatation of 3–4 cm, 5–7 cm, and 8–10 cm. The control group received only
standard care. The tools used for data collection included demographic and obstetric characteristics, the
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The data were
analyzed hroughtSPSS, version 22, using the Chi-square test, Repeated Measures ANOVA, paired t test,
independent t-test, and ANCOVA. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered.
Results: There was a significant difference in the mean pain scores after the intervention between
the two groups in dilatation of 3-4 cm (P=0.003), 5-7 cm (P<0.001), and 8-10 cm (P<0.001); also, the
chewing gum group had lower pain intensity. There was a significant difference in the mean state
anxiety (P<0.001) and trait anxiety (P<0.001) scores after the intervention between the two groups,
and the gum chewing group had lower anxiety.
Conclusion: Chewing gum is a practical alternative method for decreasing anxiety and pain intensity
during childbirth in primiparous women.
Trial Registration Number: IRCT20100510003902N5.
Keywords
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