A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GARLIC SCENTED MUSTARD OIL FOOT MASSAGE ON FATIGUE AFTER CHILDBIRTH AMONG POSTNATAL MOTHERS IN SELECTED HOSPITALS OF DISTRICT MOHALI, PUNJAB.

Abstract

Introduction :Pregnancy and childbirth are normal life events and involve mixed emotions, where the mother has
a fear about childbirth process and also filled with happiness of having a baby. Fatigue diminishes mother's ability
to concentrate on children and increases parenting stress which damages her daily functioning, communication
with others and mother-infant relationships.
Material & Method : A quantitative research approach with quasi-experimental non randomized control group
research design was used. Study was conducted in selected hospitals of district Mohali, Punjab. 80 primiparous
postnatal mothers were selected by using non-probability purposive sampling technique. Fatigue was assessed by
using self-structured postnatal fatigue assessment scale and visual analogue fatigue scale.
Result: The results according to self-structured postnatal fatigue assessment scale showed that in experimental
group, majority of postnatal mothers (80%) had mild fatigue, 20% had moderate fatigue and none of them had
either severe fatigue or no fatigue. According to visual analogue fatigue scale it showed that in the experimental
group, majority of postnatal mothers (77.5%) had mild fatigue and 22.5% had moderate fatigue but none of them
had either severe fatigue or no fatigue.
Conclusion: The study concluded that foot massage with garlic scented mustered oil was found to be very
effective in reducing fatigue after childbirth among postnatal mothers.