Abstract
Purpose
To determine women's perception of antenatal perineal massage and to identify factors impeding their massage practice.
Methods
A questionnaire survey was conducted with a purposive sample of 390 women from eight Japanese urban hospitals, clinics and birth centers and who had a vaginal and full-term delivery. The 334 (85.6%) valid responses were analyzed statistically.
Results
1. There were 114 women (52.1%) who practiced antenatal perineal massage and 105 women (47.9%) who did not. Among the 114 women who practiced perineal massage, 59.6% continued the massage until childbirth. Of the 105 women who did not practiced the massage, 45.7% felt a resistance to touching their perineum.
2. The rate of women taught how to practice antenatal perineal massage by a midwife, and who practiced perineal massage was significantly larger than who had not practiced (p=.000). Conversely, the rate of women who were taught how the massage during their maternity class, and did not practice was significantly larger than who practiced (p=.000).
3. Over half of women who knew how to perform antenatal perineal massage felt it was difficult for example: 'how to move fingers','how much pressure to apply', 'how deeply should a finger be inserted into the vagina' and 'how long does massage practice last'. Women who stopped practicing antenatal perineal massage had felt significantly more difficulty in practicing the massage than those who continued until childbirth (p=.012)
4. Women who continued to practice perineal massage felt significantly more positive 'effects on preparation for childbirth' and 'effects on childbirth' than who stopped practicing the massage (p=.000).
5. Self-efficacy, 'childbirth in my own way', of primiparous who practiced perineal massage was significantly larger than who did not practice (p=.014).
Conclusion
Factors impeding antenatal perineal massage practice were: (1) resistance to touching their perineum, (2) lack of knowledge and (3) some difficulty practicing the massage. Moreover, it was important to not only practice perineal massage but also continue in order to redeem the effects. Therefore, midwives and maternity educators need to support pregnant woman in their efforts to continue antenatal perineal massage until childbirth.
