Pengaruh Terapi Akupresur Untuk Menurunkan Risiko Kejadian Preeklamsia Pada Ibu Hamil = The Effect of Acupressure Therapy on the Risk Reduction of Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women

HASNIDAR. The Effect of Acupressure Therapy in Preventing the Incidence of Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women (Supervised by Masni, Apik Indarty Moedjiono, Mardiana Ahmad) Background: Preeclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in Indonesia. Its incidence is influenced by several maternal risk factors, particularly parity, birth spacing, history of hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. In addition to risk-based approaches, non-pharmacological interventions such as acupressure have the potential to serve as complementary strategies in preventing preeclampsia through the regulation of blood pressure and improvement of physiological function. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the risk factors associated with the incidence of preeclampsia and to evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure therapy as a preventive intervention among third-trimester pregnant women. Methods: This study was conducted in two phases. The first phase used a quantitative case–control design at Tempe and Salewangeng Health Centers, Wajo Regency, involving 140 respondents (70 cases and 70 controls) selected through purposive sampling. Data were obtained from maternal and child health (MCH) records and analyzed using bivariate analysis with odds ratios (OR) and multivariate analysis with binary logistic regression. The second phase employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design involving 120 third-trimester pregnant women. The intervention group received acupressure therapy at frequencies of once and twice per week. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and Mann–Whitney U Test. Results: In the first phase, bivariate analysis showed that parity (OR=12.278; 95% CI: 4.413–34.160), birth spacing (OR=3.052; 95% CI: 1.532–6.082), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were associated with the incidence of preeclampsia, while age, education, gestational age, and nutritional status were not significantly associated. Multivariate analysis revealed that only a history of hypertension remained a significant predictor of preeclampsia (p<0.001). In the second phase, blood pressure decreased in both intervention groups, with greater reductions observed in the twice-weekly intervention. In the high-risk group, systolic blood pressure decreased from 128 to 116 mmHg in the once-weekly group and from 130 to 100 mmHg in the twice-weekly group. Diastolic blood pressure decreased from 84 to 70 mmHg and from approximately 85 to 70 mmHg, respectively. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased from approximately 105 to 95 mmHg in the once-weekly group and from 107 to 85 mmHg in the twice-weekly group. In the non–high-risk group, blood pressure and MAP remained relatively stable, with slight reductions within normal ranges. Urinary protein levels were higher and fluctuated in the high-risk group without significant differences (p>0.05), whereas significant changes were observed in the non–high-risk group (p<0.05). Conclusion: A history of hypertension is the strongest determinant of preeclampsia among pregnant women. Acupressure therapy is effective as a non-pharmacological intervention, particularly when administered twice per week, and may serve as a complementary preventive strategy in primary healthcare settings.