Effects of Dance and Music on Pain and Fear During Childbirth

Objective: To test the effects of dance and music and music alone on pain and fear during the active phase of labor among nulliparous women.

Design: Single-blind, randomized, controlled study.

Setting: A maternity and children's hospital in Konya Province, Turkey.

Participants: A total of 93 nulliparous, pregnant women who were in the active phase of labor at term gestation with single fetuses in cephalic presentation.

Methods: We randomly assigned participants to one of three groups: dance and music, music alone, and usual care (control). We collected data four times during labor using a personal information form, labor monitoring form, visual analog scale (VAS), and Version A of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQA) to measure fear.

Results: Based on multivariate analysis of variance, the effect of time and study group interaction on VAS and W-DEQA scores was statistically significant (p < .05), and the effect of study groups and time on VAS scores was statistically significant (p < .05). The effect of the study groups on W-DEQA scores was statistically significant (p < .05), but there was no statistically significant effect of time on W-DEQA scores (p > .05).

Conclusion: Dance and music and music alone significantly reduced pain and fear in nulliparous women during the active phase of labor. These interventions are easy for nurses and midwives to use, affordable, and effective, and they enable a woman and her partner to be actively engaged in the woman's care.