A study to assess the effect of maternal positions on physical and physiological parameters of antenatal mothers and fetus during non stress test in a selected hospital at Kollam (dist), Kerala

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess whether there is a significant difference in the physical and physiological Parameters of the antenatal mothers and fetus while carrying out the Non stress test during antenatal period in three different positions. The conceptual framework used in the study was Ernestine Widenbach “The helping art of clinical nursing theory”. A quasi experimental cross over design with one group design was used for this study. The data were collected from 30 antenatal mothers, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were admitted in the antenatal ward and labour room, in a selected hospital at Kollam. The data was collected by interview method and observation checklist. The interview schedule consisted of a visual analogue discomfort scale with a recording form, one observational checklist and one questionnaire. Demographic data were categorized into (age, gestational age, abdominal girth, body mass index). Discomfort was assessed in 4 levels- no discomfort, mild, moderate and severe discomfort in three positions (supine, left lateral, semi sitting). In all the three positions mothers experienced all the 4 levels of discomfort. In the three positions the mean score of discomfort were high in supine position 2.8. So the mother experiences more discomfort in supine position when compared to the other two position (left lateral and semi sitting). The F values for overall discomfort of mothers were 19.314 and the table value was 19.16, so the calculated value is greater than the table value, the researcher accepts the alternate hypothesis. There is a significance difference in the level of discomfort of mothers in three different positions during non stress test. Statistically it shows that there is no significant difference in the physiological parameters of the mothers in the three positions before and during the non stress test. All the calculated ‘F’ values for the physiological parameters (pulse, respiration, systolic & diastolic pressure) before and during the test were less than table value, so the researcher accepted the null hypothesis. All the calculated ‘F’ values for the physiological parameters of fetus (fetal heart rate, movements, acceleration) during the test were less than table value, so the researcher accepted the null hypothesis. There is no significant difference in the mean fetal heart rate, movement, and acceleration of the fetus during Non Stress Test in the three different positions. There was a significant association of selected demographic variables with level of discomfort in supine position; the body mass index has χ2 value of 3.35 at 0.05 levels at 3 degree of freedom which is greater than the table value 2.37. The mothers above 25 body mass index had severe discomfort. So supine position seems to be discomfort during non stress test compared to the other two positions (left lateral and semi sitting). In left lateral and semi sitting positions there is no association with demographic variables. Here the researcher concludes that by providing different positions like left lateral, semi sitting during non stress test will enhance comfort to the mothers without changing the physiological parameters of both mother and fetus