The Effect of Prenatal Yoga on Labor Duration Among Primigravida Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21831/jomassh.v2i1.2838Keywords:
labor duration, prenatal yoga, primigravida, prolonged labor, vaginal deliveryAbstract
Introduction: Prolonged labor among primigravida women increases maternal exhaustion, obstetric interventions, and cesarean rates, especially in resource-limited settings. Prenatal yoga shows promise in optimizing labor physiology, but evidence from Indonesian community clinics is limited. This study evaluated structured prenatal yoga's effect on labor duration among primigravida at Rumah Sehat Bunda Maryam, Sukoharjo, Indonesia. Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial involved 140 low-risk primigravida women (70 per group) from January to December 2025. Women aged 20-35 years at 26-32 week gestation were randomized to prenatal yoga (two 60-minute sessions weekly until 38 weeks plus standard antenatal care) or standard care alone using stratified block randomization. Primary outcome was total labor duration via WHO partographs by blinded assessors. Secondary outcomes included stage-specific durations, delivery mode, analgesia, and episiotomy rates. Intention-to-treat analysis used independent t-tests and ANCOVA. Results: Intervention group had shorter total labor duration (8.4 ± 2.1 h vs 10.6 ± 2.8 h; mean difference -2.2 h, 95% CI: -3.1 to -1.3, p < 0.001), active first phase (-1.7 h, p < 0.001), and second stage (-16 min, p < 0.001). Spontaneous vaginal delivery increased (91.4% vs 77.1%; OR: 3.17, 95% CI: 1.21-8.31, p = 0.015); analgesia (OR: 0.28, p = 0.012) and episiotomy (OR: 0.44, p = 0.038) decreased. Effects persisted post-adjustment (β: -2.15 h, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Prenatal yoga significantly shortens labor and improves birth outcomes for primigravida in community settings, supporting routine antenatal care integration.
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