Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Lecturer of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2
M.Sc. Student of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3
Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
4
Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Health Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: Currently, vaginal examination is considered as the gold standard for assessing progress of labor. But, vaginal examination can be painful, embarrassing and unpleasant for women. The presence of a purple line during labor between buttocks is one of the non-invasive methods to assess progress of labor. This method can be used as an alternative or supplement for vaginal examinations. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the purple line and cervical dilatation in active phase of labor.
Methods: This correlational study was conducted on 350 women who referred to “Ommolbanin” hospital in Mashhad between April to August 2012. First, in cervical dilatation of 3-4 cm, presence or absence of purple lines was observed in lateral position by researcher and its length was measured. Then, vaginal examination was performed to measure cervical dilatation in both groups (presence or absence of purple lines) by research assistant. These measurements were repeated until full cervical dilatation each one hour. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 14 and statistical test such as Pearson correlation coefficient, chi square and t-test. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean age of women was 25.22±5 years. Of 350 women enrolled, 222 women (61.2%) were primigravida and 128 women (38.8%) were multigravida. The purple line was appeared in 75.3% of cases in active phase of labor. There were no significant difference between primigravida and multigravida in appearance of purple line (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between purple line and cervical dilatation (r=0.44, p<0.001).
Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between purple line and cervical dilatation. So this non-invasive method can be used as an alternative or supplement for vaginal examinations.
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