International Journal of Innovative Research in Health Science

Introduction: Labour pain is a complex physiological and psychological experience that may affect maternal comfort and coping during childbirth. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of peppermint aromatherapy on labour pain and coping during the first stage of labour among primiparturient mothers. Methods: A quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test control-group design was adopted in selected hospitals in Dindigul District. Sixty primiparturient mothers in the active phase of the first stage of labour were selected using convenience sampling and allocated to experimental (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups. Labour pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale, coping using the Pain Coping Scale, and feto-maternal parameters using a modified WHO partograph. The experimental group received peppermint aromatherapy. The control group received routine care. Paired t test and Chi-square test were used for analysis. Results: In the experimental group, the mean labour pain score significantly decreased from 6.9 ± 0.76 to 4.1 ± 1.44 (t = 10.29, p < 0.001), whereas no change was observed in the control group. The mean coping score in the experimental group significantly increased from 3.9 ± 1.50 to 8.1 ± 1.33 (t = 10.49, p < 0.001). In the control group, the change in coping was not statistically significant. Following the intervention, 50% of mothers in the experimental group had mild pain and 50% had moderate pain, while none had severe pain. Most mothers in the experimental group (70%) reported high satisfaction with peppermint aromatherapy. Conclusion: Peppermint aromatherapy was effective in reducing labour pain and improving coping during the first stage of labour among primiparturient mothers. It may be considered as a complementary, non-invasive nursing intervention during normal labour.