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Abstract Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of early pregnant women. Seventy to eighty-five percent of them have nausea and about half of them experience vomiting. Different methods of treatment are used including anti-emetic medications, oral ginger root extract, and acupressure. Because of the reports regarding fetal anomalies associated with anti-emetic drugs, some doctors or even patients are reluctant to use these medications (Nunley et al., 2008).In Chinese traditional medicine, morning sickness is usually caused by failure of gastric qi (vital life energy). Therefore, one of the therapeutic methods is to stimulate stomach Acupoint, which is believed to restore health by correcting the energy flow. Because of the simplicity of acupressure and no side effects from pharmaceutical treatment, acupressure may have a clinically relevant impact if this method was effective (Lee & Frazier, 2011). The current study was conducted in a selected Maternal and Child Health center of Kafer ashma at El-shouhadaa, Menoufia governorate to identify the effect of acupressure on nausea and vomiting for nulliparous women during early pregnancy as well as women opinion about if the used method was effective. This study included a total of 100 primi para women before 14 weeks of gestation, were selected randomly from Maternal and Child Health center of Kafer Ashma. The study sample was divided into 2 equal groups (study group & control group), each group includes 50 women. Demographic data were taken from the patients in both groups at the beginning of the present study. The Rhodes index scale, which is an assessment scale ranging from 0-32 score to describe the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting symptoms, was included in the questionnaires. It is a tool consisting of eight 5-point (range 0-4 point) self- report items measuring the patient’s perception of duration of nausea, frequency of nausea, distress from nausea and frequency of vomiting. A pilot study of 10% of the total sample size were conducted to test clarity, feasibility, applicability and understandability of tools and the time of application. It was carried out on 10 women (5women were assigned to P6 acupressure application and another were assigned to P6 touch). The result of the pilot study helped in refining the interview questionnaire and to set the final schedule. They were excluded from the study population to assure the stability of the results and make the necessary modifications. In our study, the experimental group received P6 acupressure bilaterally for thirty minutes before meals. The acupressure performed over a period on 10 minutes for each side (Right & Left) with a total treatment period about 60 minutes of acupressure. The patients from both groups were instructed to fill up the questionnaires at the end of the day of seven consecutive days. In the present study, the majority of cases in both groups were in age between 17-25 years. There was no significant differences between all socio demographic data between the study and control group. The results of this study, the frequency of nausea and vomiting in the study group (Acupressure) was reduced compared to before treatment. While, in the control group, the frequency was increased compared to before the treatment.In the present study, the results revealed a highly significant difference in the severity of nausea and vomiting between both groups except before intervention. In the study group, the mean of severity of nausea and vomiting attacks was high (7.26 ±.80 scores) and decreased in the second measure to (6.70±.73 scores) and continued to decrease till (4.68±.86 scores) in the seventh measure. But, in the control group the mean of severity of nausea and vomiting attacks in the first measure was (6.92±1.67scores) then elevated in the next measures until reached (7.34±1.27scores) in the seventh measure. The collected data were organized, categorized, tabulated and statistically analyzed using SPSS program version, data were presented in the tables using descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies, Chi- square test, percentage and mean score, standard deviation, comparison of means was performed using paired t-test. Correlation among variables were done using person correlation coefficient. Significance was accepted at p value <0.05 for interpretation of results of tests of significance. The present study concluded that, Acupressure on the pericardium 6 point is effective in reducing the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. According to this study, it was found that Acupressure with Neiguan point can be considered as a good alternative method in treating nausea and vomiting in pregnant women without any side effect like medical treatment. |