title: The Impact of Aloe vera and Calendula on Perineal Healing after Episiotomy in Primiparous Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Episiotomy is used for enlarging the perineum. Aloe vera and Calendula have been used for treating different diseases from ancient times, limited researches have been done regarding the healing of these plants. Since the effect of their ointment on episiotomy healing has not been studied, this study is being done for determining the impact of Aloe vera and Calendula on episiotomy healing in primiparous women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinical trial involves 111 qualified primiparous women admitted in Lolagar hospital. They were randomly categorized into three groups of control (n=1) and experimental (n=2) groups. The women in experimental group used Aloe vera and Calendula Ointment every 8 hours and the control group used hospital routine on episiotomy for 5 days. The data were collected by demographic questionnaire and redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge and approximation scale (REEDA) which investigated the episiotomy healing before and five days after intervention in two groups. ANOVA, Tukey test, Kruskal-wallis, Chi-square were used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three groups do not have statistically significant different regarding demographic and other intervening variables. Comparing the mean of REEDA in five days after delivery showed statistically significant difference between control and experimental groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results, using Aloe vera and Calendula ointment considerably increases the speed of episiotomy wound healing so it can be used for quickening the episiotomy healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eghdampour
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jahdie
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masomeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kheyrkhah
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taghizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naghizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hagani
keywords: Aloe vera; Calendula officinalis; Episiotomy; Ointment; Primiparity