EFFECTIVENESS OF EARLY AMBULATION ON POST-OPERATIVE RECOVERY AMONG PRIMIPAROUS POST CESAREAN MOTHERS- A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Abstract

Introduction: A caesarean section is a surgical procedure by which one or more babies are delivered through an incision made on a mother's abdomen and uterus. After caesarean section, early ambulation and oral intake need to be encouraged, when the effect of anesthesia is minimized. The present study was done  to find the association between early ambulation and post operative recovery in primi post caesarean mothers.

Methods: Study design used was Randomized controlled trial. Total 124 samples were chosen by random sampling with block randomization method and divided into two groups. In experimental group, the researcher assessed the pain level and initiated early ambulation after 6 hours of surgery for covering the distance of 40 meter and post operative recovery was assesses by structured observational schedule for first 5 post operative day and in control group mothers were ambulated after 18 hours of surgery as per the hospital protocol.

Results: There is a significant difference between the mean post-operative pain score after ambulation among experimental and control group (7.23,7.98) on day 1, (4.74,6.82) on day 2, (3.11,5.10) on day 3, (1.75,3.27) on day 4 and (1.11,2.28) on day 5 as shown by Independent t-test (p<0.01). Other aspects of Post-operative recovery  i.e. number of analgesic required, passage of first flatus, initiation of oral intake, initiation of breast feeding, holding baby independently and Incisional pain after ambulation were compared between the group  and found to have a significant difference at the level of <0.05.

Conclusion: Therefore early ambulation was effective in postoperative recovery among primi  post caesarean mothers and enables the nurses to involve in assisting in early ambulation.