Pelvic floor exercise: Awareness, knowledge, beliefs and practices among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2026-04-13
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
KNUST
Abstract
Background
Pregnancy and childbirth increase the risk of pelvic floor muscle damage, leading to
conditions such as urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ pro
lapse. This makes it imperative to adopt strategies such as pelvic floor muscle exer
cises (PFMEs) to ensure positive antenatal and postnatal experiences for women.
Hence, the study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, practices, and beliefs
of PFMEs among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting.
Objective
We assessed the awareness, knowledge, practices and beliefs of PFMEs among
pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting.
Design
A cross-sectional descriptive research was conducted, recruiting 134 pregnant
women through convenient sampling in selected antenatal clinics in Kumasi metropo
lis, Ashanti Region.
Methods
The study adopted the questionnaire regarding pelvic floor muscle training among
pregnant women used by Teerayut Temtanakitpaisan, Suvit Bunyavejchevin, Pranom
Buppasiri and Chompilas Chongsomcha. Data on the socio-demographic character
istics of the women, their awareness, knowledge, beliefs and practices about PFMEs
were recorded.
Results
More than half (64.9%) of the respondents were not aware of PFMEs. Subsequent
analysis for this work was therefore done for participants who reported being aware
(35.1%). Also, the principal sources of information from which the subjects acquired
the knowledge of PFME were health-care providers (42.6%) and media outside the
hospital (36.2%). With reference to beliefs 80.3% believed that PFME could reduce
vaginal trauma and 83.0% believe PFME aids vaginal birth. In terms of PFME prac
tice, 36.2% of the aware women performed PFME regularly.
Conclusion
To ensure pregnant women are well-informed about PFMEs, physiotherapists should
work with antenatal care providers to develop comprehensive courses that include
detailed information on PFME’s.
Description
These work is submitted into Kwame Nkrumah, University of Science and Technology, College of Health Sciences, July 9th, 2026.