Pelvic girdle pain and pelvic floor disorders in pregnant Nepalese women

Pelvic floor disorders such as pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence are common reproductive health problems in Nepal, but knowledge about pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and low back pain (LBP) is limited. Little is also known about pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) even though PFMT is recommended for management of pelvic floor disorders. The aims of this thesis were to increase the knowledge about pregnant Nepalese women in terms of PGP and/or LBP and PFMT program. The thesis involved two studies. In study 1, the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire was validated into Nepali language and showed acceptable reliability and validity for assessing PGP in pregnant Nepalese women (paper I). Secondly, the prevalence of PGP and/or LBP and its associated factors were assessed in Nepalese pregnant women. PGP and/or LBP were found to be common in pregnant Nepalese women and women with a high body mass index, educated husbands and symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse were associated with PGP and/or LBP (paper II). In study 2, a feasibility study was conducted to address aspects of a PFMT program and we found that PFMT program was feasible to perform in pregnant Nepalese women (paper III)