EFFECT OF EFFLEURAGE MASSAGE VERSUS HEAT PATCH ON AFTERPAIN LEVEL IN POSTNATAL MOTHERS

Following childbirth, women may endure a variety of physical discomforts. Among these is after pain which is a sign of uterine involution, the process through which the reproductive organs return to their state before pregnancy. Following childbirth, non-pharmacological methods should be prioritized for pain relief. Aim of the Study: To determine the effect of effleurage massage versus heat patch on afterpain level among multipara postnatal women. Subjects and method: A quasi-experimental study design was used, 90 women complained from afterpain were chosen by purposive sampling from Damanhour Medical National Institute obstetrics and gynecological department. Tools: Three tools were used for collecting data. Tool I: Structured interview sheet, Tool II: Visual analog pain scale and Tool III: A modified version of Chamber Price pain rating scale. Results: The result of the study showed that pain intensity was statistically significant among both study groups before and after intervention (p =.000). Tables demonstrated that effleurage massage was more effective in controlling after pain than heat patch application (p=0.000**). Conclusion: According to the current study, effleurage massage causes less pain severity afterward than heat patches. Recommendations: Hospital protocols should recommend the use of effleurage massage and heat patches for managing afterpain.