Low-Risk Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of the Effects of Auriculotherapy on Pregnancy-Related Discomforts
Published 2026-05-01
Keywords
- Obstetric Nursing; Pregnant Woman; Patient Comfort; Auriculotherapy
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2026 Flávio César Bezerra da Silva , Jovanka Bittencourt Leite de Carvalho, Thais Rosental Gabriel Lopes, Rosa Maria dos Santos Moreira
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Introduction
During pregnancy, women are subject to various physiological and emotional changes, which should be monitored within the scope of antenatal care. The healthcare team may employ, where appropriate, non-pharmacological strategies such as Auriculotherapy, a technique that stimulates specific points on the auricle for the management of various conditions, based on the principle that the ear constitutes a microsystem in which the entire body is represented.
Objective
To understand the impact of Auriculotherapy on low-risk pregnant women with regard to pregnancy-related discomforts.
Methods
A descriptive, exploratory study with a qualitative approach was conducted with pregnant women from Brazil and Portugal. A data collection instrument was used, comprising closed-ended questions for characterisation and open-ended questions relating to complaints and sensations following the use of the technique. Data collection took place between March and October 2021 with 17 low-risk pregnant women in Natal/Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, and 8 pregnant women in Coimbra, Portugal, between the months of February and June 2022. The data were analysed using Bardin’s content analysis. Ethical principles for research were observed and favourable opinions were obtained from two ethics committees.
Results
The majority of participants were married, with higher education, aged between 28 and 32, primigravida, and had a low family income. The most frequent discomforts included lower back pain, oedema, cramps, stress and anxiety. Auriculotherapy demonstrated positive effects, promoting physical relief and emotional well-being, with improvements also recognised by family members. These findings suggest that the intervention is simple, effective, and contributes to the alleviation of both physical and emotional pregnancy-related discomforts.
Conclusion
The pregnant women reported significant improvements in physical and emotional discomforts associated with pregnancy, together with an increased sense of tranquillity. Auriculotherapy had a positive effect on well-being, regardless of sociodemographic differences between Brazil and Portugal, with no relevant cultural influence. The technique proved to be simple and effective and may be recommended as a first-line therapeutic strategy, reinforcing the nurse’s role in reducing gestational discomforts. The reduced number of participants, attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, constitutes a limitation of the study.