Effectiveness of Acupressure at PC6, LR3, and SP6 in Reducing Blood Pressure among Hormonal Contraceptive Users with Hypertension at TPMB Sumariyah Malang City

Abstract

Background: Hormonal contraceptives widely used for family planning, can trigger side effects such as hypertension due to synthetic hormones affecting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. This study aims to determine the effect of acupressure at points PC6 (Neiguan), LR3 (Taichong), and SP6 (Sanyinjiao) on blood pressure among hormonal contraceptive users with hypertension at TPMB Sumariyah, Malang City. Methods: This quantitative research employed a pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of 26 hormonal contraceptive users with hypertension were selected using consecutive sampling. Data collection involved measuring blood pressure before and after a seven-day intervention consisting of three acupressure sessions. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test due to non-normal distribution. Results: The study found a significant reduction in blood pressure following the intervention. The mean systolic blood pressure decreased from 145.85 mmHg (SD 7.45) to 126.15 mmHg (SD 6.37), while the mean diastolic pressure decreased from 92.00 mmHg (SD 6.88) to 75.38 mmHg (SD 8.59). Statistical analysis showed a p-value of 0.000 for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, indicating a highly significant effect. Quantitatively, 100% of participants experienced a decrease in systolic pressure. Conclusions: Acupressure at points PC6, LR3, and SP6 effectively reduces blood pressure in hormonal contraceptive users with hypertension. This non-pharmacological therapy can serve as a complementary approach for midwives to manage contraceptive side effects. Future research should incorporate control groups and consider broader lifestyle factors and medical histories to further validate these findings.