THE EFFECT OF USING BINAHONG LEAVES IN REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF INFECTIONS IN PERINEAL WOUNDS

Abstract

Background: The postpartum period (Post Partum) is the period that begun after the birth of the placenta and ends when the uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy state, which lasts for 6 weeks or 42 days. Perineal wounds are tears in the perineum that occur during childbirth and result in tissue tears. Kegel exercise is pubococcygeal muscle movements in the form of contracting and stretching. Vulva hygiene is the behavior of maintaining the cleanliness and health of the external genital organs (vulva) to prevent infection, by using a decoction of binahong leaves which contains flavonoids as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant. Objective: Prevent infection and speed up healing of episiotomy wounds after normal delivery. Methodology: data collection was done through interview, observation, physical examination and demonstration of vulva hygiene method using binahong leaves decoction and Kegel exercise. Results: In normal primiparous post partum mothers with episiotomy wounds, the vulva hygiene method using boiled binahong leaves and Kegel exercise can be applied so that the risk of infection in the episiotomy wound can be prevented. Conclusion: The vulva hygiene method using boiled binahong leaves twice a day during bath time, after urinating or after defecating and Kegel exercise can be done independently at home for normal primiparous postpartum mothers with episiotomy wounds.