Comparison of the effects of the preparation techniques of the pelvic floor to the vaginal birth on perineal integrity

• Grant number: 15/02244-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: August 04, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Driusso
• Grantee: Priscila Godoy Januário Martins Alves
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Perineal trauma during childbirth is an important etiological factor of various undesirable complications to women's health, with emphasis on pelvic floor dysfunction. Thus, methods that preserve the perineal integrity have been a challenge to practices among health professionals working in the gravid-puerperal cycle assistance. Despite the remarkable importance of beneficial effects of pelvic floor preparation prior to vaginal birth on prevention of perineal trauma, there are few studies in the literature that point which is the best method to be used to reduce the chances of perineal lesions. Therefore, there is need for more studies to compare existing methods. Objective: the objective this present study is to compare the effects of perineal massage, the vaginal dilator and training of the muscles of the pelvic floor (TMAP) to prepare the pelvic floor for vaginal birth on perineal integrity of primiparous. Methodology: primiparous are selected over 18 years, with gestational age between 30 and 33 weeks and wishing to vaginal birth. Women will be randomly allocated into 3 groups: perineal massage, vaginal dilator and TMAP and should practice the technique from the 34th week of pregnancy until the time of delivery. All the women will be subject to clinical evaluation, functional assessment of pelvic floor and perineal integrity assessment prior to the beginning of the practice of the technique and 60 days after childbirth. Data analysis: the analyses shall be carried out pre-and post-intervention. The data will be tabulated in Excel program and statistically analyzed in Statistica 7.0 program. The normality of the data will be checked by the Shapiro-wilk test. Appropriate statistical tests will be used to compare groups and check the correlation or association between the variables of interest. For all analyses will be considered a significance level of 5% (p<0,05). (AU)