Effect of Prenatal Perineal Massage on Postpartum Perineal Injury and Postpartum Complications: A Meta-Analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of prenatal perineal massage on postpartum perineal injury and complications.
Results Summary
The study found that prenatal perineal massage reduced the risk of perineal injury, the incidence of lateral perineal resection, and long-term pain, though no significant difference was observed in 1-2 degree perineal tearing between groups.
Population
Pregnant individuals receiving prenatal care.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
prenatal perineal massage | no change | 1-2 degree perineal tearing | - | RR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.90, 1.03] | no significant difference | #1 |
prenatal perineal massage | decrease | perineal injury | - | - | can reduce the risk | #2 |
prenatal perineal massage | decrease | lateral perineal resection | - | - | can reduce the incidence | #3 |
prenatal perineal massage | decrease | long-term pain | - | - | can reduce the incidence | #4 |
BACKGROUND: The efficacy of perineal massage is controversial. The study was aimed at comparing the effects of perineal massage on perineal injury and complications. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Science were searched for literature on the relationship between prenatal perineal massage and postpartum perineal injury and complications until April 2022. Indicators included postpartum perineal tears, perineotomy, postpartum perineal pain, natural labour, and postpartum incontinence. Finally, RevMan5.4 software was used to analyze the extracted data. RESULTS: A total of 6487 subjects in 16 studies were included, with 3211 who received perineal massage and 3276 did not. There was no significant difference in 1-2 degree perineal tearing between the intervention group and the control group (RR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.90, 1.03], CONCLUSION: Compared with no prenatal perineal massage, prenatal perineal massage can reduce the risk of perineal injury, the incidence of lateral perineal resection, and the incidence of long-term pain.