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

Tennfjord, Merete Kolberg; Kassie, Belayneh Ayanaw; Gashaw, Zelalem Mengistu; Asaye, Mengstu Melkamu; Muche, Haymanot Alem; Fenta, Tibebu Tadesse; Chala, Kalkidan Nigussie; Mæland, Karolina S.

doi:10.3390/ijerph20054201

Open AccessArticle

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

by

Merete Kolberg Tennfjord

¹

,

Belayneh Ayanaw Kassie

²,

Zelalem Mengistu Gashaw

³,

Mengstu Melkamu Asaye

²

,

Haymanot Alem Muche

⁴,

Tibebu Tadesse Fenta

⁵

,

Kalkidan Nigussie Chala

⁶ and

Karolina S. Mæland

^7,8,*

¹

School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, 0152 Oslo, Norway

²

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

³

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, College of Medicine and Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia

⁴

Department of Clinical Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Science, School of Midwifery, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia

⁵

University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia

⁶

Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine and Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia

⁷

Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 5063 Bergen, Norway

⁸

Faculty of Health Sciences, SHARE-Center for Resilience in Healthcare, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4201; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054201

Submission received: 3 February 2023 / Revised: 23 February 2023 / Accepted: 24 February 2023 / Published: 27 February 2023

(This article belongs to the Collection Exclusive Collection for Youth and Junior Researchers in Section Global Health)

Download Versions Notes

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

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Tennfjord, M.K.; Kassie, B.A.; Gashaw, Z.M.; Asaye, M.M.; Muche, H.A.; Fenta, T.T.; Chala, K.N.; Mæland, K.S. Pelvic Floor Disorders and Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise: A Survey on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Pregnant Women in Northwest Ethiopia. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 4201. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054201

AMA Style

Tennfjord MK, Kassie BA, Gashaw ZM, Asaye MM, Muche HA, Fenta TT, Chala KN, Mæland KS. Pelvic Floor Disorders and Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise: A Survey on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Pregnant Women in Northwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(5):4201. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054201

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tennfjord, Merete Kolberg, Belayneh Ayanaw Kassie, Zelalem Mengistu Gashaw, Mengstu Melkamu Asaye, Haymanot Alem Muche, Tibebu Tadesse Fenta, Kalkidan Nigussie Chala, and Karolina S. Mæland. 2023. "Pelvic Floor Disorders and Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise: A Survey on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Pregnant Women in Northwest Ethiopia" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 5: 4201. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054201

APA Style

Tennfjord, M. K., Kassie, B. A., Gashaw, Z. M., Asaye, M. M., Muche, H. A., Fenta, T. T., Chala, K. N., & Mæland, K. S. (2023). Pelvic Floor Disorders and Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise: A Survey on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Pregnant Women in Northwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4201. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054201

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Menu

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

Abstract

Share and Cite

Article Metrics

Article Access Statistics

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI