Research Article

SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025)

Number: 2026 January 18, 2026
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SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025)

Abstract

This study aims to bibliometrically analyse international scientific publications on nonpharmacological pain management in childbirth. Data were collected between 10-20 April 2025 using the Web of Science database on articles published between 2000 and 2025. In the study, the data were analysed based on bibliometric criteria such as distribution by publication year, most prolific authors, most cited journals, countries and keyword relationships. The search yielded a total of 627 publications using the keywords 'nonpharmacological pain management', 'labour pain management', 'natural pain relief during childbirth', 'water birth', 'aromatherapy in labour' and 'breathing techniques during labour'. The publications clearly increased over the years, with a significant surge in scientific output, averaging 25.9 citations, peaking at 67 publications in 2022 and 1973 citations in 2024. The United States of America dominated, producing the most publications, and Carolina Smith stood out as the researcher who published the most. The University of California system was the most prolific institution in this field. The results of the study are a vital resource for researchers in midwifery and obstetrics, providing a scientific foundation for enhancing practices in women's health and obstetrics services. This study clearly indicates the necessity for additional research on pain management in childbirth and underlines the significance of international collaborations in this area.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Makalenin hazırlanmasında herhangi bir kişi ya da kuruluştan destek alınmamıştır.

Ethical Statement

Çalışmanın retrospektif tanımlayıcı türde bir araştırma olması ve çalışma verilerinin kamuya açık olan veri tabanları kullanılarak elde edilmesi nedenleriyle bu çalışmada etik kurul onayına gereksinim duyulmamaktadır.

References

  1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2019). Approaches to limit intervention during labor and birth. https://www.acog.org
  2. Aziato, L., Kyei, A. A., & Deku, G. (2017). Experiences of midwives on pharmacological and non-pharmacological labour pain management in Ghana. Reproductive Health, 14, 128. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-017-0398-y
  3. Barut, S., Sabancı Baransel, E., Celik, O., & Ucar, T. (2024). The trends and hotspots of research on nonpharmacological interventions for labor pain management: A bibliometric analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 45, 2322614. https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2024.2322614
  4. Cabral, B. T. V., Santos Rocha, M. C., Almeida, V. R. M., Cunha, Y. A., Petronia, C. C. A. D., Azevedo, I. C., & Martins, Q. C. S. (2023). Non-pharmacological measures for pain relief in childbirth: A systematic review. Revista Brasileira de Saúde Materno Infantil, 23. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9304202300000439-en
  5. Cluett, E. R., Burns, E., & Cuthbert, A. (2018). Immersion in water during labour and birth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018(5), Article CD000111. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000111.pub4
  6. Czech, I., Fuchs, P., Fuchs, A., Lorek, M., Tobolska-Lorek, D., Drosdzol-Cop, A., & Sikora, J. (2018). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of labour pain relief—Establishment of effectiveness and comparison. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(12), 2792. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122792
  7. Damayanti, F. N., Wiyanti, Z., Pranata, S., & Lutfitasari, A. (2024). Labour pain intervention: A bibliometrics analysis. Scripta Medica, 55(4). https://doi.org/10.5937/scriptamed55-49002
  8. Herrero-Orenga, C., Galiana, L., Sansó, N., Martín, M. M., Romero, A. C., & Fernández-Domínguez, J. C. (2024). Effects of water immersion versus epidural as analgesic methods during labor among low-risk women: A 10- year retrospective cohort study. Healthcare, 12(19), 1919. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12191919

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Promotion

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

January 18, 2026

Submission Date

May 8, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 6, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 2026

APA
Gültepe, R. (2026). SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025). Sağlık Ve Sosyal Refah Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2026. https://doi.org/10.55050/sarad.1695151
AMA
1.Gültepe R. SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025). SARAD. 2026;(2026). doi:10.55050/sarad.1695151
Chicago
Gültepe, Remziye. 2026. “SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025)”. Sağlık Ve Sosyal Refah Araştırmaları Dergisi, nos. 2026. https://doi.org/10.55050/sarad.1695151.
EndNote
Gültepe R (January 1, 2026) SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025). Sağlık ve Sosyal Refah Araştırmaları Dergisi 2026
IEEE
[1]R. Gültepe, “SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025)”, SARAD, no. 2026, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.55050/sarad.1695151.
ISNAD
Gültepe, Remziye. “SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025)”. Sağlık ve Sosyal Refah Araştırmaları Dergisi. 2026 (January 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.55050/sarad.1695151.
JAMA
1.Gültepe R. SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025). SARAD. 2026. doi:10.55050/sarad.1695151.
MLA
Gültepe, Remziye. “SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025)”. Sağlık Ve Sosyal Refah Araştırmaları Dergisi, no. 2026, Jan. 2026, doi:10.55050/sarad.1695151.
Vancouver
1.Remziye Gültepe. SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ON NONPHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN LABOUR: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2000-2025). SARAD. 2026 Jan. 1;(2026). doi:10.55050/sarad.1695151


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