Effectiveness of early ambulation on post-operative recovery among caesarean mothers

Background: Cesarean section is a major abdominal surgery and may entail more discomfort, longer recovery and difficulty returning to normal activity than vaginal delivery. Early mobilization was the most significant nursing intervention for improving post-operative outcomes including enhancing pain relief, promoting wound healing, prevention of deep vein thrombosis, reducing hospital stay, and expediting recovery and return to normal activity. Objective: The current study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of early ambulation on post-operative recovery among caesarean mothers. Materials and Methods: The research design was quasi-experimental post-test only control group design. Total 80 caesarean mothers were enrolled by simple random sampling technique, 40 in each study and control group. The intervention early ambulation at 6 hours after caesarean section was given for 3 consecutive days to study group whereas control group was ambulated as per routine care. Data were collected one time everyday for 4 consecutive days after given intervention. Post-operative recovery was assessed in both groups by using observation Schedule including wound healing, fundal height and activity of daily living. Pain score was assessed with numeric pain rating scale. Results: The results revealed that there was significant difference between the mean post-operative pain score from POD 0 to POD 3 after ambulation among study and control group as shown by p-value (p=0.001 to p<0.001). On wound healing parameter there was significant difference seen in discharge, redness, swelling at p-value 0.002, 0.029,0.017 respectively except separation as p-value was 0.317. Similarly fundal height had been significantly decreased from POD 1 to POD 3 at p-value (p=0.010 to p=0.001). In activity of daily living highly significant difference were seen from POD 0 to POD 3 at p-value (p<0.001). Statistically no significant association was found of post-operative recovery among caesarean mothers with selected demographic variables and obstetrics characteristics at (p>0.05) level. Conclusions: Therefore the study concluded that early ambulation was effective in postoperative recovery among caesarean mothers.