International Journal of Innovative Research in Health Science

Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is associated with maternal and perinatal risks and may coexist with substantial psychological stress. Guided imagery is a non-invasive relaxation approach that may support emotional well-being and blood pressure management when used alongside standard obstetric care. This study evaluated the effectiveness of guided imagery on blood pressure and stress among antenatal mothers with PIH at Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Children Hospital (RGGWCH), Puducherry. Methods: A quantitative true-experimental pre-test and post-test control-group design was used. Seventy antenatal mothers with PIH were selected and allocated to an experimental group (n=35) and a control group (n=35) using the lottery method. Blood pressure was measured with a calibrated sphygmomanometer, and stress was assessed using the 35-item Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale (PSRS). The experimental group received Tamil audio-guided imagery in addition to routine antenatal care; the control group received routine care. Assessments were conducted at baseline, day 7 and day 15. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, paired and unpaired t-tests, repeated-measures ANOVA and Pearson correlation. Results: In the experimental group, mean systolic blood pressure decreased from 152.80±6.08 mmHg at baseline to 132.23±5.71 mmHg on day 15 (reported repeated-measures F=68.96, p=0.0001). Mean diastolic pressure decreased from 90.66±5.71 to 81.66±6.66 mmHg (F=56.72, p=0.0001). Mean stress score decreased from 77.89±11.99 to 56.03±10.80 (F=74.77, p=0.0001). The control group showed no statistically significant within-group changes in these outcomes. Day-15 stress correlated positively with systolic pressure (r=0.421, p=0.012) and diastolic pressure (r=0.449, p=0.007) in the experimental group. Conclusion: The reported findings suggest that guided imagery may be a useful complementary nursing intervention for reducing blood pressure and stress among antenatal mothers with PIH. It should be used only as an adjunct to, and never a replacement for, evidence-based obstetric assessment and treatment.