Effectiveness of Foot Reflexology and the Information Education and Communication on Maternal and Foetal Outcome among Mothers with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus attending Antenatal Clinic at Selected Hospitals Vellore

Abstract

Background: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) categorised the Gestational Diabetes Mellitus as the fourth type and defined it as The degree of carbohydrate intolerance with onset (or) first recognition during pregnancy . The estimated rate of GDM in Tamilnadu reveals 17.8% in urban, 13.8% in semi urban and 9.9% in rural areas. Aim of the study: To decrease the raised maternal blood glucose to normal level and maintain it till the delivery for better maternal and foetal outcome through foot reflexology for the GDM mothers. Subjects and Methods: The quantitative evaluative research approach with quasi experimental non- randomized controlled pre and post matched pairs design and Non- probability convenience sampling technique was adopted to select 146 GDM mothers for the research attending outpatient clinic of Obstetrics department at urban Primary Maternity Health Centre, Vellore. The control group was taught simple pelvic tilt exercises at 8th session. The information of maternal and foetal out-come were retrieved from the records. Reliability assessed by using test-retest method. Results: The difference of post mean maternal blood glucose level was 2.39 times more in experimental group-II than group- I with 49% normal delivery, mean birth weight as 3.85, mean neonatal blood glucose level as 97.41and acquired adequate knowledge with 95% CI by 28.34 (25.56-31.09) as the combined effect of foot reflexology and IEC. Conclusion: The 8 sessions of foot reflexology was effective in reducing maternal blood glucose level. Neonatal hypoglycemic levels promoted the normal deliveries and minimized the complications of macrosomia in both experimental groups (I, II) which was statically significant at p=0.001 level. The combined effect of foot reflexology and IEC enhanced the maternal and foetal outcomes in addition to acquiring adequate knowledge in experimental groups -II among GDM mothers. newline