Effects of the Rebozo Technique During Active Labor on Labor Pain and Labor Duration in Primiparous Women

Summary

Study Description

Childbirth is a physiological process often accompanied by severe pain and prolonged labor, which may negatively affect maternal well-being and increase the likelihood of obstetric interventions. Non-pharmacological approaches that support physiological labor are recommended as part of evidence-based intrapartum care. The Rebozo technique is a traditional midwifery intervention involving rhythmic pelvic mobilization using a woven cloth to promote maternal comfort, facilitate fetal descent and rotation, and improve labor progression.

This single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Rebozo technique on labor pain intensity and labor duration among primiparous women during the active phase of labor. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group, receiving the Rebozo technique in addition to routine intrapartum care, or the control group, receiving routine intrapartum care alone.

The primary outcomes are labor pain intensity, assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and labor duration, measured from the active phase of labor (6 cm cervical dilatation) until birth. The findings are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness, feasibility, and clinical applicability of the Rebozo technique as a safe, low-cost, non-pharmacological intervention to support physiological childbirth and improve maternal intrapartum outcomes.

Conditions

• Labor Pain
• Labor Duration
• Childbirth
• Management of Delivery
• Rebozo at Birth

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Rebozo technique

The Rebozo technique is a standardized non-pharmacological intervention performed using a traditional woven cloth to provide rhythmic pelvic mobilization during the active phase of labor. The intervention was administered in three sessions of approximately five minutes each by a trained researcher in addition to routine intrapartum care.

OTHER

Routine Intrapartum care

Routine intrapartum care was provided according to the institutional clinical protocol and included maternal and fetal monitoring, assessment of labor progress, supportive midwifery care, and obstetric management when clinically indicated.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Yeliz YILDIRIM VARIŞOĞLU, Assoc. Prof. · Istanbul University

• Gamze ÇERÇİNLİ, Midwife · Başakşehir Çam & Sakura City Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-12-01

Primary Completion

2025-05-01

Completion

2025-06-30

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations