Attitude and concerns on antenatal pelvic floor exercises among pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: Several studies had investigated the importance and benefit of pelvic floor exercises (PFEs) to the pregnant women and their unborn babies, however, the concerns of antenatal women on the exercise have been sparsely investigated. This study examined the attitude and concerns of pregnant women towards engaging in PFEs in Ibadan, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was cross-sectional study of pregnant women aged ≥15 years. Participants were recruited at primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities. A face-to-face interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire with open and close-ended questions for data collection. Bivariate analysis was performed using chi-square and Fisher's exact test to investigate the association between categorical variables. Multivariate analysis was performed with log-binomial and multinomial regressions to select significant variables that affect the attitude of pregnant women. Results: Of the 373 pregnant women recruited, 118 had ever practiced PFEs. A little below average (43%) performed PFE for less than 3 days a week. Ability to have easy childbirth was the most common motivator for practicing PFE. Participants were most concerned about abdominal pain. No association between any of the factors and participants' attitudes. Conclusion: Though there was a positive attitude of pregnant women towards the PFE but the practice was low. This might be due to inadequate availability of information. We recommend health promotional messages to encourage pregnant women to engage in PFE as part of antenatal messages for healthy living.