Evaluating the Effectiveness of Acupressure on Pain Management in Adolescent Girls with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Study at a Nursing College in Allahabad

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea, a prevalent issue among women, especially adolescent girls, significantly impacts daily life. In India, 67.2% of adolescent girls experience dysmenorrhea, affecting their routines. This study aims to evaluate acupressure's effectiveness in alleviating dysmenorrhea pain by comparing pain levels between experimental and control groups. Employing a quasi-experimental design, 60(experimental group=30, control group=30) adolescent girls (aged 17-21) from Christian College of Nursing, Allahabad, were divided equally. Data collection involved structured questionnaires and pain rating scales. Acupressure was administered at the SP6 point, followed by post-test assessments. The experimental group, despite higher junk food consumption, showed more regular exercise habits and prior dysmenorrhea knowledge. Initially, both groups experienced moderate pain, but post-intervention, the experimental group exhibited significant improvement, with 46.66% reported no pain and 46.66% experience mild pain. Conversely, 40% of the control group still experienced moderate pain. Statistical analysis revealed a substantial reduction in mean pain scores within the experimental group from pre-test (5.53 ± 2.14) to post-test (1.03 ± 1.22), and a significantly lower post-intervention mean score (1.03 ± 1.22) compared to the control group (3.56 ± 1.99). These findings highlight acupressure's efficacy in reducing menstrual pain among adolescent girls, emphasizing its potential as a non-invasive intervention for dysmenorrhea. Key words: Dysmenorrhea, adolescent girls, acupressure, SP6 point, pain reduction, quasi-experimental study.