Observational Cross-Sectional Study with Guatemalan Lay Midwives About Acupressure Use for Preeclampsia

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Integrative Medicine
• Maternal Health

Background:

• Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal mortality in Guatemala, with limited treatment options for lay midwives.
• Lay midwives provide most births but are restricted from using biomedicine for conditions like preeclampsia.
• Acupressure shows potential for blood pressure reduction, a relevant intervention for lay midwives during patient transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of acupressure education on lay midwives' knowledge of preeclampsia management.
• To evaluate the feasibility of integrating acupressure as a complementary therapy by lay midwives in Guatemala.
• To explore potential for acupressure to reduce maternal mortality rates associated with preeclampsia.

Main Methods:

• 179 lay midwives received educational sessions on preeclampsia and six acupressure points.
• Participants were provided with laminated Reminder Cards featuring culturally relevant acupressure point illustrations.
• Knowledge retention was assessed using pre-test and post-test evaluations.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in knowledge regarding acupressure for preeclampsia was observed (pre-test M=0 to post-test M=4.29, p < 0.001).
• Pre-test showed 0% awareness of acupressure sites; post-test revealed over 71% could identify at least one site.
• The educational intervention effectively improved lay midwives' understanding and identification of relevant acupressure points.

Conclusions:

• Educational interventions can significantly enhance lay midwives' knowledge of acupressure for preeclampsia management.
• Empowering lay midwives with acupressure techniques offers a promising strategy to address maternal mortality in Guatemala.
• Expanding acupressure training to other pregnancy-related issues could further enhance maternal healthcare in remote regions.