Effectiveness of a Deep Breathing Module on the Understanding of Non-Pharmacological Management Among Pregnant Women with Gestational Hypertension at Community Health Centers in Kendari City: A Preliminary Report

Introduction and Methods Hypertension in pregnancy is a major contributor to maternal morbidity. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pillar regarding maternal health, non-pharmacological management such as deep breathing relaxation techniques serves as a complementary intervention that can be independently practiced by pregnant women. However, the success of this therapy relies heavily on the mother's level of understanding. This preliminary report aimed to evaluate the use of a deep breathing educational module on the understanding of non-pharmacological management among pregnant women with gestational hypertension at Community Health Centers (Puskesmas) in Kendari City. This preliminary study employed a pre-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest design. The sample consisted of 30 pregnant women with gestational hypertension within the working area of Community Health Centers in Kendari City. The research instrument was a comprehension questionnaire administered before (pretest) and after (posttest) the deep breathing module intervention. Data were analyzed descriptively to evaluate changes in mean scores and standard deviations. Results The respondent profile was dominated by women in the reproductive age group of 20–35 years (96.7%), in their second trimester of pregnancy (63.3%), and with multigravida parity status (63.3%). Measurement results demonstrated a substantial increase in the mean comprehension score from 63.17 at pretest to 76.73 at posttest. Furthermore, the decrease in standard deviation from 9.606 to 3.581 indicates that the use of the deep breathing module helped standardize the respondents' understanding of hypertension management. Conclusions and Recommendation The application of the deep breathing educational module improved and standardized pregnant women's understanding of independent hypertension management. Further inferential analysis and clinical studies involving a control group are required to confirm the statistical significance and effectiveness of these preliminary findings. Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) This study contributes to achieving Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (Good Health and Well-being), specifically Target 3.1, by supporting efforts to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality through improved health literacy in the independent management of gestational hypertension.