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Beleza A.C.S.1, Brito J.1, Alves P.G.J.M.2, Driusso P.1
1Federal University of São Carlos - UFSCar, Physiotherapy, São Carlos, Brazil, 2Bahia State University, Salvador, Brazil
Background: The gestational period promotes changes in the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and these can contribute to the occurrence of urinary symptoms. The scientific literature shows that the PFM training should be prescribed to pregnant women as a prophylactic measure and treatment against urinary incontinence. There are no studies involving the Brazilian population that show the pregnant women's awareness of this musculature, as well as the performance of exercises aiming the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy.
Purpose: Evaluate the awareness of Brazilian pregnant women about the PFM. Verify the practice of PFM exercise.
Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study accomplished through digital form completion between 2015 and 2016. The study participants were women aged between 18 and 35 years old, primigravidae who have internet access. There were excluded from the study who declared to have a PFM dysfunction or who have undergone a pelvic surgery. There was elaborated an instrument that contained questions related to the PFM awareness. This questionnaire was sent to five physiotherapists for content validation. After some suggestions, the necessary corrections were made, and the tool was transcript to an electronic format and shared in pregnancy-related websites. As a way to evaluate the data, there was performed a descriptive analysis of the variables.
Results: 155 pregnant women participated on the study, with an average age of 26.05 years (±4.55years). Around 67.3% (104) reported awareness of the PFM. 31.4% (49) reported that they have heard of the PFM in the current pregnancy. About 20.2% (32) of the women have heard about the PFM from another pregnant friend and 14.2% (22) have heard from a physiotherapist. About the professional that guides the training of PFM, 38.5% (60) answered that this was a physiotherapist, and 57% (89) reported not knowing. When it came to PFM training, 57% (89) reported to be possible to practice the exercises; 77.6% (69) of these women practiced. Around 37 (53.6%) performed the PFM training at home, 24 (34.7%) performed under the supervision of a health professional. 28.26% (54) practiced the training as a way to get prepared for delivery, around 78 (50.3%) did not intend to continue practicing the exercises after birth.
Conclusion(s): There has been possible to conclude that most of the pregnant women did know the PFM, however the training of the pelvic floor muscles was performed for less than half of the women. Preparing the musculature for delivery was the main objective, which demonstrates the need for better orienting these women about the importance of that musculature, and for this reason most of the women reported that they would cease training after birth.
Implications: It is suggested that health professionals should offer to the women orientation about the pelvic floor muscles at antenatal care, and that exercising these muscles should not cease after birth. The practice of exercises for this musculature should be incorporated to the daily life of the women as a way to maintain and improve their general health, due to all the factors that can contribute to pelvic floor dysfunctions through out womens life.
Funding acknowledgements: This paper was not funded by any agency.
Topic: Women's & mens pelvic health
Ethics approval: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of São Carlos (n. 1.293.692)
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
