Assess the Knowledge Regarding Selected Non- Pharmacological Interventions among Pregnant Women

During labour and childbirth, comfort techniques that give natural pain relief can be quite beneficial. The purpose of this study was to analyse pregnant women's awareness about non-pharmacological therapies in Bhopal's designated hospitals. This study was conducted using a descriptive research approach. The study's target population was pregnant women, and the sample method was purposive sampling. A total of 50 people were included in the study. The knowledge of pregnant women on non-pharmacological therapies was assessed using a self-structured questionnaire, and the study findings indicated that their understanding was insufficient.


INTRODUCTION
Non-pharmacological therapies have the potential to reduce labour pain while causing little or no harm to the mother, foetus, or labour progress. They are also easy and cost-effective. [1].

Original Research Article
For the treatment of labour pain, a variety of pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods are available [2]. Hydrotherapy, hypnobirthing, rhythmic breathing, relaxation, and visualization are all birthing techniques that enhance the generation of endogenous endorphins, which attach to pain receptors in the brain and provide pain relief [3].
Non-pharmacological therapies have the potential to reduce labour pain while causing little or no harm to the mother, foetus, or labour progress, and are straightforward and costeffective [4]. Pain in labour is a nearly universal experience for child bearing women and it can be intense with tension, anxiety and fear making it worse. It is however experienced differently by mothers giving birth. The majority of women though need some sort of pain relief drugs during childbirth, but safety of the child takes the first priority [5]. The alleviation of pain is important commonly it is not the amount of pain a woman experiences, but whether she meets her goals for herself in coping with the pain that influences her perception of the birth experience as "good" or "bad". The observant nurse looks for cues to identify the women's desired level of control in the management of pain and goes into the development method of pain control that brings effective relief for the mother without harm to the child. The perfect solution is yet to be found therefore at times the safety of the child must taken precedence over the comfort of the mother [6]. Many women would like to have labour without using drugs and find alternative methods to manage the pain. These methods include acupressure, breathing technique, massage therapy, music, and warm compress. Labour pain and methods to relive it are concerns of childbearing women and families. Approximately 4 million women and families annually in the United States alone are undergoing this problem. The subject of labour pain is relatively neglected in the health and medical literature. National data is unavailable to describe both childbearing women's access to and use of drug free pain relief measures in the united State which appears to be quite limited and far from commensurate with this universal relevance [7][8][9][10][11].

Need of the Study
Natural child birth is a beautiful experience with many safe options and benefits. Women usually dream of a perfect birth. One unique aspect of childbirth is the association of physiologic process with pain and discomforts requiring appropriate pain management. Intervention of pain and discomfort during labour and childbirth is a major part of modern obstetric care of labouring women. Many women would like to avoid pharmacological or invasive method of pain management in labour and this may contribute towards the popularity of complementary methods of pain management. One of such complimentary approach is the nonpharmacological method used in labour. The world health organization lists non-invasive, nonpharmacological treatments as a category. A classification "Practices that are demonstrably useful and should be encouraged." Specifically, the WHO classifies massage and relaxation techniques as category A. Although music therapy is not expressly listed in the WHO classification of practices in normal birth, it certainly serves as a noninvasive and often relaxing treatment during labor. Other nonpharmacological interventions such as herbs, immersion in water, and nerve stimulation are practices for which insufficient evidence exists to support a clear recommendation.

Problem Statement
Assess the knowledge regarding selected nonpharmacological interventions among pregnant women in selected hospitals at Bhopal, (M.P.).

Objectives of the Study
To assess the knowledge of pregnant women regarding selected non-pharmacological interventions.
To associate their knowledge with selected demographic variables.

Hypothesis
There will be a significant association between knowledge of pregnant women regarding selected non-pharmacological interventions with their selected demographic variables.

Operational Definition
Knowledge: -Knowledge refers to the verbal responses of the pregnant women regarding selected non-pharmacological interventions as assessed by a structured questionnaire.
Pregnant women: -Women under the period from conception to birth.
Non-pharmacological interventions: -Any type of health intervention which is not primarily based on medication.

Assumptions
1. Pregnant women will have some knowledge regarding breathing exercises. 2. Demographic variables may or may not influence the knowledge of pregnant women.

MATERIAL AND METHOD
This study was conducted using a descriptive research design.

Population
Pregnant women who were attending antenatal OPD's of the hospital at the time data collection.

Sampling
Purposive sampling was used to collect data.

Sample Size
The sample size was 50.

Inclusion criteria
 The pregnant women who were willing to participate  The pregnant women who were present at the time of data collection.

Exclusion criteria
 The pregnant women who were not willing to participate.

Description of the Instrument
A self-structured questionnaire was used to conduct the study. The tool consisted of: Part I-Demographic variables such as age, education, occupation, area.
Part-II-Consisted of a self structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge on selected non-pharmacological interventions which consisted of 30 multiple choice questions.

Scoring
Each question had four options from which the sample had to choose one correct answer. The right answer was scored as one and the wrong option was scored as zero.
The scoring was interpreted as below: Over the course of a week, the data was gathered. Prior to the start of the trial, the Hospital administration gave their approval. Before collecting data, the investigator established rapport with the research participants by describing the purpose of the interview and gaining informed consent.
Descriptive measures were used to investigate women's knowledge and demographic characteristics. The link between knowledge and selected demographic characteristics of pregnant women was explored using inferential approaches. The significance threshold utilised was 0.05 percent. Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics of women, such as age, education, employment, income, and geographic location. After that, the samples were separated into the following age groups: 20-30 years old: 56%, 31-40 years old: 40%, and more than 41 years old: 4%. In terms of education, 24% had completed tenth grade, 42% had passed twelveth grade, 18% had completed graduate school, 14 percent had completed postgraduate school, and 2% were illiterate. In terms of occupation, 36 percent were employed in the private sector, 14 percent in government, 10% in self-government, and 40% were housewives. They come from a rural location 64 percent of the time and an urban area 36 percent of the time.

Distribution of Pregnant Women by
Knowledge Level Table 2 shows that there was no significant relationship between knowledge and some demographic characteristics including age, education, occupation, or location. There was a strong link between knowledge and age and educational attainment.

CONCLUSION
The number of pregnant women who were aware of non-pharmacological therapy was minimal.
Organizing community-based events to educate pregnant women about non-pharmacological therapies is critical.

Nursing Practice
The findings of the study will assist pregnant women with non-pharmacological therapies, which they can use during labour to improve mother and foetal outcomes.

Nursing Education
The student nurses may be inspired to teach the women about non-pharmacological interventions.

CONSENT AND ETHICAL APPROVAL
As per international standard or university standard guideline participant consent and ethical approval has been collected and preserved by the authors.