title: [The use of respiration and relaxation techniques for pain and anxiety relief in the parturition process].
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of respiration and relaxation techniques on pain and anxiety during labor. Seventeen parturients (Control Group--CG) received routine care and nineteen (Experimental Group--EG) were orientated and stimulated to perform respiration and relaxation techniques. Pain was evaluated by means of the visual analogy scale and anxiety by means of the anxiety inventories--trait and state. Pain intensity increased along with the evolution of the delivery for both groups. In the latent phase, anxiety levels were low for both groups; in the active phase, levels were average for CG and low for EG. In the transition phase, levels were average and, in the immediate post-labor phase, low for both groups. It was concluded that the techniques used did not reduce pain intensity, but provided EG with lower anxiety levels for a longer time during labor.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Goiás. nilza@fen.ufg.br
authors.forename: Nilza Alves Marques
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Joaquim Tomé
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Maria Márcia
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bachion
authors.forename: Nusa de Almeida
authors.initials: Nde A
authors.lastname: Silveira
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D059408:Pain Management; D011247:Pregnancy; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012119:Respiration