Ka Po Chan
The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongTitle: Effects of perinatal meditation on pregnant Chinese women in Hong Kong: A randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Objective: To assess the effects of Perinatal Meditation on pregnant
Chinese women in Hong Kong.
Design: A prospective longitudinal randomized control quantitative
study. Data were collected using the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire,
Prenatal Coping Inventory, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Body-Mind-Spirit
Well-Being Inventory (BMSWBI) and salivary cortisol. Data were collected during
first visit, 36th weeks pregnant, 5th weeks and 5th months after delivery.
Settings: Perinatal meditation program (Eastern Based Meditative
Intervention, EBMI) for pregnant Chinese women in Hong Kong who were attending
the hospital clinic for routine perinatal care.
Participants: 64 pregnant Chinese women were recruited for
intervention and 59 were for control. 36 cases were classified as Frequent
Practice (FP) in intervention group.
Results: Quantitative results showed statistically significant
increase in positive appraisal (p < .05) at 36th weeks, difference in
evening salivary cortisol (p < .05) and decreased in physical distress (p
< .05) at 5th weeks postpartum in the Frequent Practice (FP) group.
Conclusions: Frequency of practice of meditation is directly related
to its effects. Perinatal meditation can help pregnant women to reduce
perinatal stress through its effect on coping mechanism and improves physical
discomfort in postnatal period which are risk factors for maternal health,
fetal health, and child health. Perinatal meditation can be added into present
perinatal counselling and perinatal program to promote maternal health, child
health and family health.
Biography
.