IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS) e-ISSN: 2320–1959.p- ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 3, Issue 1 Ver. IV (Jan. 2014), PP 39-43 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 39 | Page A Randomized Control Trial to Determine the Effect of Foot Reflexology on Intensity of Pain and Quality of Sleep in Post Caesarean Mothers Jipi Varghese 1 (corresponding author), Jobby George 2 , Yathikumara Swamy Gowda 3 , 1 PhD Researcher in obstetrics and gynaecology nursing, Yenepoya University, University road, Derlakkate 575018, Mangalore Karnataka India 2 PhD Researcher in Physiotherapy, specialization in psychiatry, Yenepoya University, Mangalore Karnataka state, India. 3 PhD Researcher in medical surgical nursing, Yenepoya University, University road, Derlakkate 575018, Mangalore Karnataka India. Abstract: Background: Caesarean section is one of the most commonly performed abdominal surgeries on the woman throughout the world with incidence of 20-25% in many developed countries. 4 In India caesarean section rates have skyrocketed especially in private sector where caesarean section rate was found to be 47% in contrast to 38% in charitable hospitals and 20%in public hospitals according to a population –based cross sectional study in Chennai, India. In the early 1970s researchers reported that pain was seriously undertreated aspect after surgery. New medications and the recognition of complimentary pain management strategies have contributed to the improved ability to manage pain and to provide satisfactory pain reduction and/or relief. 9 Reflexology is a sensational, dynamic yet simple approach to glowing health. Touch could induce pain relief by activating the large beta afferent nerve fibres from receptors in the skin as they connect with the cells in dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Stimulation of these fibres by stroking skin has been found to affect the activity of these nociceptive cells in the dorsal horn close the gate on the barrage of painful xi stimuli reaching the brain. The nurse is important health care personnel who can help the post operative mother who have undergone caesarean section in her pain management. Results: Mean PSQI were found to be significantly lower in the intervention group (p<0.001) than in the control group. The post test mean score of pain of an experimental group was significantly lower than of a control group (X = 4.75, X =7.65, t = -10.627, p<.001). Also, there was a significant difference between groups in terms of the pain intensity and requesting for analgesic (p < .001). The research hypothesis was accepted which indicates that after receiving foot reflexology therapy, the subjects showed significant pain relief and improved quality of sleep. Conclusion: The findings of the study support the need of implementing foot reflexology to post operative pain and improve the quality of sleep among post caesarean mothers. Foot reflexology is a non pharmacological, cost effective and simple intervention without any adverse effects. The results proved that the foot reflexology was effective in reducing the post operative pain among post caesarean mothers. Keywords: Foot reflexology, pain, quality of sleep, Post Caesarean Mothers, Caesarean section, effectiveness. I. Introduction Child birth is one of the greatest events in every woman’s life. Though it is the happiest moment, the process of child birth is physically painful. Caesarean section is one of the common methods of delivery with incidence of Thirty-two percent of all births in the United States. India is also experiencing a rapid increase in C-section deliveries with incidence of 32.6% documented from South India. Post operative pain and insomnia are the major concerns for the mother. Some alternative therapies are in the early empirical stage in reducing post operative pain and improving quality of sleep. 1 A study to find the Effect of foot and hand massage in post cesarean pain control in a group of Turkish mothers revealed that the reduction in pain intensity was significantly meaningful in both intervention, when compared to the control group 5 . A study done in New Delhi, India to know the effectiveness of foot reflexology on pain among post- operative patients showed that there was a 50% reduced use of analgesics in the experimental group where foot reflexology was used for pain control, against the control group were only analgesics were administered. The study concluded that foot reflexology was effective in reducing post operative pain 6.