Atefeh Kazemi Robati - Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Behnaz Molaei - Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Nima Motamed - Dept. of Social Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Robabeh Hatami - Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Hamideh Gholami - Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Anita Ahmadi Birjandi - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Mina Esmkhani - Dept. of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

 Background & Objective:  Based on the cultural and structural boundaries in Iran in terms of the presence of doulas through the delivery, the importance of making the delivery more desirable for mothers, and since few important studies have been conducted on this topic in Iran, this study evaluated the effects of the presence of a doula on anxiety and pain in pregnant women during delivery.  Materials & Methods:  This randomized clinical trial was conducted on ۸۰ pregnant women referred to Ayatollah Musavi Hospital (Zanjan, Iran) in ۲۰۱۶. For women in the intervention group, the doula provided emotional and physical support. The motherschr('۳۹') pain severity and anxiety were measured by using a visual analog scale (VAS) and Spielberger questionnaire, respectively. Categorical and continuous variables were compared using chi-square and t tests, respectively.  Results:  We found that a higher proportion of patients had experienced mild anxiety about entering the postpartum period (۴۷.۵% vs ۱۵%) and exiting it (۸۰% vs ۴۰%; P<۰.۰۵) compared to the control group.  Also, the mean VAS score was significantly higher in the control group at ۴-۵ cm (۸۶.۵±۱۱.۳۹ vs ۷۸.۶۲±۱۴.۰; P=۰.۰۰۷) and ۷-۸ cm of cervical dilatation (۹۹.۰±۴.۴۱ vs ۹۵.۰±۸.۴۷; P=۰.۰۱) stages.  Conclusion:  The presence of a trained doula during labor can ease the mental consequences of delivery and decrease womenchr('۳۹')s anxiety and pain during labor.

Doulas, Labor, Emotions, Anxiety, Pain