Investigating the Effects of Acupressure and Auriculotherapy on Anxiety During Labor, Neonatal Outcomes, and Maternal-fetal Attachment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: Divergent findings reported in the literature on the impact of acupressure on improvement in mothers’ anxiety during labor and consequently on birth outcomes. However, there is no existing meta-analysis on this issue. Objectives: This systematic review assesses the effect of acupressure and auriculotherapy on anxiety during labor, neonatal outcomes, and maternal-fetal attachment. Methods: The Cochrane central register of controlled trials, MEDLINE/PubMed, ISI, and Scopus online databases were searched by two researchers up to January ۲۰۲۳. The quality of studies was assessed based on the Jade scale. Results: Nine studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupressure significantly decreased anxiety compared to touching (standardized mean difference=-۳.۲۹; P<۰.۰۰۱; I۲=۸%; P=۰.۲۹۵; the fixed effect model) and routine care (standardized mean difference=-۱.۰۸; confidence interval=-۲.۴۶ to ۰.۳۰; P=۰.۱۲; I۲=۹۶.۱۹%; P<۰.۰۰۱). Maternal-fetal attachment was higher in both groups who received acupressure and auriculotherapy compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۰۱). Meanwhile, auriculotherapy did not impact neonatal outcomes, such as newborns’ weight and Apgar score. Conclusions: Acupressure was an effective tool to improve anxiety during labor and it consequently improved fetal oxygenation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Acupressure ، Anxiety level ، Labor ، Systematic review ، Meta-analysis ، Neonatal outcomes