Observational studyMidwifery2018
Culture, bathing and hydrotherapy in labor: An exploratory descriptive pilot study.
Observational study in Midwifery, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Determinants and willingness to practice obstetric analgesia among women attending antenatal clinic at Dr. Bogalech Gebre Memorial General Hospital Central Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Article
- Comparative Analysis of Therapeutic Showers and Bathtubs for Pain Management and Labor Outcomes-A Retrospective Cohort Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Effects of Hydrotherapy on the Management of Childbirth and Its Outcomes-A Retrospective Cohort Study.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2024Article
- Article
- Quantitative cardiac autonomic outcomes of hydrotherapy in women during the first stage of labor.Frontiers in medicine · 2022Article
- Pregnant women's knowledge of non-pharmacological techniques for pain relief during childbirth.European journal of midwifery · 2022Article
- Hygienic and cosmetic care habits in polish women during COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2020Article
- Analgesia during Labor and Vaginal Birth among Women with Severe Maternal Morbidity: Secondary Analysis from the WHO Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health.BioMed research international · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveThough bathing (hydrotherapy) is widely used during labor to decrease anxiety and pain and to promote relaxation, the influence of cultural beliefs about bathing by parturients is virtually unknown. This pilot study explored pregnant women's experiences of bathing, bathing in labor, and cultural beliefs about bathing.
designAn exploratory, descriptive design.
settingLow risk obstetrical clinics.
participantsHealthy Hispanic, Black, White, American-Indian and Asian women (N = 41) at >37 weeks gestation.
methodsDuring a routine prenatal visit women responded to a brief openended questionnaire on the use of bathing. Data was captured using a modified ethnographic method involving observation and note taking with thematic analysis and quantification of percent response rates.
findingsForty-six percent (N = 41) of women used bathing for purposes other than hygiene but only 4.9% (N = 41) of these women bathed during a previous labor. The women described bathing as relaxing, easing, calming, and efficacious for relief of menstrual cramps and labor contractions. Ten percent of women reported cultural beliefs about bathing.
conclusionsWomen who bathe, report relief of anxiety, menstrual and labor pain and promotion of mental and physical relaxation. The findings do not support the view that bathing is associated with identifiable cultural beliefs; rather, they suggest that bathing is a self-care measure used by women. This practice is likely transmitted from generation to generation by female elders through the oral tradition. Assumptions that race or ethnicity precludes the use of bathing may be faulty. Cautionary instructions should be given to pregnant women who are <37 completed weeks of gestation, to avoid bathing for relief of cramping or contractions and to seek immediate health care evaluation. Study of culturally intact groups may uncover additional themes related to bathing in labor and as a self-care measure for dysmenorrhea.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.