EFEKTIFITAS PENGGUNAAN AROMATERAPI LAVENDER TERHADAP TINGKAT NYERI PADA IBU BERSALIN KALA I FASE AKTIF DI PUSKESMAS BANJARWANGI KABUPATEN GARUT

Abstract

Labor pain is a physiological condition experienced by women during childbirth, caused by uterine contractions. If not properly managed, labor pain can lead to decreased effectiveness of uterine contractions, prolonged labor, and even fetal distress. Lavender aromatherapy is one of the non-pharmacological methods that can be used to reduce pain, promote relaxation, decrease tension and anxiety, and provide comfort for laboring women. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy on pain levels in women during the active phase of the first stage of labor at Banjarwangi Community Health Center, Garut Regency, in 2026. This study employed a pre-experimental design using a one-group pretest-posttest approach. The sample consisted of 32 women in the active phase of the first stage of labor, selected through consecutive sampling. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses, with the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test used to determine the effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy on labor pain levels. The results showed that before the administration of lavender aromatherapy, the majority of respondents experienced moderate pain, accounting for 28 respondents (87.5%), while 4 respondents (12.5%) experienced severe pain. After the administration of lavender aromatherapy, a reduction in pain intensity was observed, with 21 respondents (65.6%) experiencing moderate pain and 11 respondents (34.4%) experiencing mild pain. The results of the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test indicated a p-value of < 0.001 (p < 0.05), demonstrating a statistically significant difference in pain levels before and after the administration of lavender aromatherapy. In conclusion, lavender aromatherapy is highly effective in reducing the active phase of first-stage labor pain.