KNOWLEDGE ON THE TECHNIQUE OF ANTENATAL PERINEAL MASSAGE AMONG ANTENATAL MOTHERS: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Abstract

This study aims to assess antenatal mothers' familiarity with the technique of antenatal perineal massage (APM) and its potential impact on mitigating the risk of perineal trauma and episiotomy during labor. The absence of APM explanation in antenatal sessions has resulted in mothers experiencing perineal trauma and other complications post-birth due to a lack of awareness. Employing a descriptive quantitative approach, the research utilized questionnaires for data collection from 100 respondents, comprising primigravida and multigravida mothers at a selected Public Health Clinic, selected through simple random sampling. Findings disclosed that 77% of respondents were acquainted with APM, while 33% had never encountered it. Information sources varied, with 59.7% obtaining knowledge from pamphlets and 22.1% from the internet. Significantly, 46.5% expressed a preference for antenatal classes as a medium for disseminating APM information. An overwhelming 99% of mothers expressed interest in learning the APM technique. The ensuing discussion focuses on the identified knowledge levels among antenatal mothers at the public health clinic. In terms of nursing implications, APM emerges as a preventive measure against perineal trauma during childbirth, highlighting the imperative for nurse midwives to enhance their understanding and convey this knowledge to antenatal mothers, thus averting the risk of perineal trauma.