Effects of the Rebozo Technique During Active Labor on Labor Pain and Labor Duration in Primiparous Women

Istanbul University120 enrolled

Overview

Study Description Childbirth is a physiological process often accompanied by severe pain and prolonged labor, which may negatively affect maternal well-being and increase the likelihood of obstetric interventions. Non-pharmacological approaches that support physiological labor are recommended as part of evidence-based intrapartum care. The Rebozo technique is a traditional midwifery intervention involving rhythmic pelvic mobilization using a woven cloth to promote maternal comfort, facilitate fetal descent and rotation, and improve labor progression. This single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Rebozo technique on labor pain intensity and labor duration among primiparous women during the active phase of labor. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group, receiving the Rebozo technique in addition to routine intrapartum care, or the control group, receiving routine intrapartum care alone. The primary outcomes are labor pain intensity, assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and labor duration, measured from the active phase of labor (6 cm cervical dilatation) until birth. The findings are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness, feasibility, and clinical applicability of the Rebozo technique as a safe, low-cost, non-pharmacological intervention to support physiological childbirth and improve maternal intrapartum outcomes.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

120

Conditions

Labor Pain

Interventions

Rebozo techniquePROCEDURE

The Rebozo technique is a standardized non-pharmacological intervention performed using a traditional woven cloth to provide rhythmic pelvic mobilization during the active phase of labor. The intervention was administered in three sessions of approximately five minutes each by a trained researcher in addition to routine intrapartum care.

Routine Intrapartum careOTHER

Routine intrapartum care was provided according to the institutional clinical protocol and included maternal and fetal monitoring, assessment of labor progress, supportive midwifery care, and obstetric management when clinically indicated.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 45 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Primiparous women * Aged 18-35 years * Singleton pregnancy * Cephalic fetal presentation * Gestational age between 37 and 42 completed weeks * Spontaneous onset of labor * Cervical dilatation of 6 cm (active phase of labor) * No contraindication to vaginal birth * Able to communicate in Turkish * Provided written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Multiple pregnancy * Non-cephalic fetal presentation * Previous uterine surgery * Pregnancy complications requiring emergency obstetric intervention * Planned cesarean birth * Maternal or fetal conditions requiring immediate delivery * Refusal or withdrawal of informed consent

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Labor Pain Intensity Assessed Using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain

Labor pain intensity was assessed using the 10-cm Visual Analog Scale for Pain, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity and therefore a worse outcome. Scores were recorded immediately before and immediately after completion of the Rebozo intervention. The control group was assessed at corresponding time points.

Time frame: Immediately before the intervention and immediately after its completion, approximately 15 minutes after the baseline assessment during active labor.

Secondary Outcomes

Duration of the Active Phase of Labor

The duration of the active phase of labor was calculated in minutes from the first documented cervical dilatation of 6 cm until birth, based on standardized partograph records. Higher values indicate a longer duration of labor.

Time frame: From the first documentation of 6 cm cervical dilatation until birth, assessed up to 24 hours.