http://jnep.sciedupress.com Journal of Nursing Education and Practice 2016, Vol. 6, No. 4 ORIGINAL RESEARCH Effect of second stage perineal warm compresses on perineal pain and outcome among primiparae Rasha Mohamed Essa ∗ , Nemat Ismail Abdel Aziz Ismail Obstetric and Gynecologic Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Damnhour University, Damnhour, Egypt Received: August 23, 2015 Accepted: November 26, 2015 Online Published: December 14, 2015 DOI: 10.5430/jnep.v6n4p48 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v6n4p48 ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the effect of second stage perineal warm compresses on perineal pain and outcome among primiparae. A non-randomized controlled clinical trial was utilized at the labor and delivery unit of National Medical Institution in Damanhour, Albehera Governorate, Egypt. Research was carried out from beginning May 2014 till the end of October 2014, with a total of 160 parturients in their second stage of labor. They were equally randomly divided into study (N = 80) and control (N = 80) groups. Four tools were utilized to collect the necessary data. The first tool was a Socio-demographic and clinical data structured interview schedule. The second tool was a Numerical Pain Rating Score (NPRS), to estimate the subjective level of pain intensity. The third tool was a modified Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS), to measure the behavioral responses to pain. The fourth tool was the second stage and perineal outcome assessment tool: to assess duration of the second stage of labor, mode of delivery, need for pain relief during 2nd stage, baby birth weight, perineal condition, degrees of perineal tear and need to repair. The results revealed that perineal pain intensity did statistically significantly decrease among the study group after the intervention (P = .000). On the other hand, it was slightly increased among the control group after the intervention (P = .106). There was a statistically significant difference between the study and control groups in favor of the former in relation to perineal tear, vaginal tear, degree of perineal tear and need to repair where P = .000. The study concluded that second stage perineal warm compresses had better effects on perineal pain and perineal outcome. It resulted in less perineal pain and less genital tract trauma as well as decrease needs to repair. Consequently, it is recommended that perineal warm compresses should be incorporated into pain relief and perineal maintaining options available to women during second stage of labor. Key Words: Second stage of labor, Warm perineal compress, Perineal pain, Perineal trauma 1. I NTRODUCTION Each year approximately more than 600,000 women die due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. The vast majority of them have been determined to occur in de- veloping countries. Antenatal, natal and postnatal care is among the fundamental protective services for protection and improvement of the health of both mother and the in- fant to be delivered. [1] Prevention of perineal trauma is one of the best options for birthing women. Accordingly both child-bearing women and health professionals place a high value for minimizing perineal trauma and reducing potential associated morbidity for mothers. [2, 3] Trauma to the genital tract is most likely to be present in vagi- nal birth and is known to be more common in primiparous women. Perineal trauma refers to any damage to the genitalia during childbirth. There are two classification of perineal trauma: Spontaneous perineal trauma which is called non- intentional trauma (tears) and Episiotomy which is called * Correspondence: Rasha Mohamed Essa; Email: rashaessa111@yahoo.com; Address: Obstetric and Gynecologic Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Damnhour University, Damnhour, Egypt. 48 ISSN 1925-4040 E-ISSN 1925-4059