Introduction: The postpartum period is defined as the period following placental delivery until the reproductive organs return to their pre-pregnancy condition, typically lasting up to six weeks after childbirth. During this period, mothers undergo various physiological and psychological changes. One of the common physiological discomforts experienced is afterpain, which results from intermittent uterine contractions during the involution process. Uncontrolled afterpain may interfere with maternal comfort, breastfeeding, rest, and recovery. As a complementary non pharmacological intervention, effleurage massage has been widely used to promote relaxation and reduce pain perception. This study aimed to determine the effect of effleurage massage on afterpain among postpartum mothers in the working area of Kubutambahan II Community Health Center. Method: This study employed a quantitative pre-experimental design using a one-group pretest posttest approach. The study included 30 postpartum mothers on the second to fourth postpartum day who were recruited using a total sampling technique. The intensity of afterpain was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test to compare pain intensity before and after the administration of effleurage massage. Result: The findings demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in afterpain following the intervention. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test yielded a p-value of 0.001 (p < 0.05), indicating a significant difference in afterpain intensity before and after effleurage massage. Conclusion: In conclusion, effleurage massage significantly reduced after-pain among postpartum mothers in the working area of Kubutambahan II Community Health Center. This technique may be considered an effective complementary midwifery intervention for managing postpartum afterpain and enhancing maternal comfort during the postpartum recovery period.
Copyrights © 2026