• HOPE School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China;
ZHOU Wenji, Email: fujiwaranosaki@yahoo.com.cn
Export PDF Favorites Scan Get Citation

Objective  To evaluate the effect of music therapy for childbirth.
Methods  Such databases as The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, EBSCO host, SpringerLINK Online Journals, CBM and WanFang Data were searched from January of 2000 to December of 2010 to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of music therapy for childbirth. The quality of RCTs was appraised and the data were extracted. Meta-analyses were conducted with RevMan5.02 software for the standarded RCTs.
Results  A total of nine RCTs were included. Five RCTs indicated the music therapy could alleviate the labor pain; five RCTs indicated the music therapy could reduce the event risk of cesarean section due to the failure of transvaginal trial labor; three RCTs indicated the music therapy could shorten the first stage of labor; two RCTs indicated the music therapy could stabilize the systolic pressure and heart rate when complete cervical dilation was done, and three RCTs indicated the music therapy could relieve anxiety. In addition, music therapy had no influence on neonate Apgar’s score; and the result of meta-analyses on postpartum hemorrhage was not reliable through sensitivity analyses.
Conclusion  The music therapy applied during childbirth can relieve the labor pain and anxiety, stabilize the heart rate and systolic pressure when complete cervical dilation is done, reduce the event risk of cesarean section due to the failure of transvaginal trial labor, shorten the first stage of labor, and is beneficial to the mind and body of parturient.

Citation: ZHOU Wenji. The Effect of Music Therapy for Childbirth: A Meta-analysis. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2011, 11(4): 419-426. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.20110073 Copy

Copyright © the editorial department of Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine of West China Medical Publisher. All rights reserved

  • Previous Article

    Atraumatic Restorative Treatment versus Conventional Restorative Treatment for Childhood Caries: A Systematic Review
  • Next Article

    Chewing Gum in Promoting Bowel Recovery after Cesarean Section: A Systematic Review