Pelvic Floor Disorders and Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise: A Survey on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Pregnant Women in Northwest Ethiopia

Merete Kolberg Tennfjord, Belayneh Ayanaw Kassie, Zelalem Mengistu Gashaw, Mengstu Melkamu Asaye, Haymanot Alem Muche, Tibebu Tadesse Fenta, Kalkidan Nigussie Chala and Karolina S. Mæland ()
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Merete Kolberg Tennfjord: School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, 0152 Oslo, Norway
Belayneh Ayanaw Kassie: Department of Women’s and Family Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, School of Midwifery, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
Zelalem Mengistu Gashaw: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, College of Medicine and Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
Mengstu Melkamu Asaye: Department of Women’s and Family Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, School of Midwifery, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
Haymanot Alem Muche: Department of Clinical Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Science, School of Midwifery, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
Tibebu Tadesse Fenta: University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
Kalkidan Nigussie Chala: Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine and Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
Karolina S. Mæland: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 5063 Bergen, Norway

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-11

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to investigate 1: overall knowledge of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence (UI) as well as knowledge, attitudes, and practice of pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME); and 2: the association of these factors with parity in pregnant women in Gondar, Ethiopia. A facility-based cross-sectional study was performed in the Central Gondar zone, northwest Ethiopia between February and April 2021. The associations between parity and knowledge of POP and UI, and knowledge, attitude, and practice towards PFME were estimated using logistics regression models and presented as crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Nulliparous women were used as the reference. Adjustments were made for maternal age, antenatal care visits, and level of education. The study sample comprised 502 pregnant women: 133 nulliparous, and 369 multiparous. We found no association between parity and knowledge of POP, UI, or knowledge, attitude, and practice toward PFME. The sum score indicated poor knowledge about both POP, UI, and PFME in the study population, and poor attitude and practice of PFME. Despite a high attendance in antenatal care services, knowledge, attitude, and practice were poor, indicating a need for quality improvement of the services.

Keywords: pelvic floor dysfunction; pelvic floor muscle exercise; pelvic organ prolapse; urinary incontinence; pregnancy; Ethiopia; women’s health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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