Non-Pharmacological Methods for Reducing Pain During Vaccination in Infants

The Effect of Breastfeeding and Maternal Holding on Reducing Pain During Vaccination in Infants

Pain management in infants is a medical responsibility of all members of the healthcare team, and nurses hold a privileged role in this regard. The primary goal of pain management is to accurately assess and identify the infant's pain at an early stage, support the development of coping mechanisms through both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods, and minimize the pain experience as much as possible. Pain management achieved through non-pharmacological interventions constitutes a safe, non-invasive, cost-effective, and independently performed nursing practice. This randomized controlled study was conducted to determine the effect of non-pharmacological methods, specifically maternal holding and breastfeeding, on reducing pain during vaccination in infants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being healthy,
• Aged between 4 weeks and 6 months,
• Parents have given verbal and written consent to participate in the study,
• Born at term (37 weeks of gestation or later),
• Scheduled for vaccination under the Ministry of Health's vaccination program,
• Not having taken analgesics/antipyretics in the last 4 hours before the procedure,
• Having a normal body temperature (between 36.5°C and 37.1°C).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having a chronic or mental illness, or a congenital anomaly,
• Being older than 6 months,
• Having a body temperature above 37.1°C,
• Receiving analgesics, sedatives, or any other medication.