Prevalence and severity of low back- and pelvic girdle pain in pregnant Nepalese women

• Published in: BMC pregnancy and childbirth Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 247
• Main Authors: Shijagurumayum Acharya, Ranjeeta, Tveter, Anne Therese, Grotle, Margreth, Eberhard-Gran, Malin, Stuge, Britt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 15.07.2019; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Agricultural production; Child care; Cross-Sectional Studies; Education; Ethnicity; Families & family life; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Low back pain; Low Back Pain - epidemiology; Mental depression; Morbidity; Nepal; Nepal - epidemiology; Pain; Pelvic girdle pain; Pelvic Girdle Pain - epidemiology; Pelvic pain; Pelvis; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - epidemiology; Prevalence; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Self Report; Severity of Illness Index; Sociodemographics; Statistical analysis; Womens health; Women’s health; Workloads; Nepal; Impact; Pregnancy; Function; Pelvic girdle pain; Prevalence; Low back pain; Severity; Women’s health; Pelvic pain; Nepal
• ISSN: 1471-2393; 1471-2393
• DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2398-0

Low back pain (LBP) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP) are commonly reported during pregnancy and are known to affect pregnant women's well-being. Still, these conditions are often considered to be a normal part of pregnancy. This study assesses the prevalence and severity of LBP and/or PGP among pregnant Nepalese women, as well as exploring factors associated with LBP and PGP. A cross-sectional study with successive recruitment of pregnant women was conducted at two district hospitals in Nepal from May 2016 to May 2017. The data was collected using self-reported questionnaires. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the associations between independent variables and LBP and/or PGP. A total of 1284 pregnant women were included in the study. The reported prevalence of pregnancy-related LBP and/or PGP was 34%. Pain intensity was high with a mean score (standard deviation) of 6 (2). The median (25th-75th percentiles) disability scores according to the total Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire and Oswestry Disability Index were 20 (10-32) and 30 (21-38), respectively. Even though only 52% of the women believed that the pain would disappear after delivery, concern about LBP and/or PGP was reported to be low (median 2 (0-4) (Numeric Rating Scale 0-10)). In the final model for women with LBP and/or PGP the adjusted odds ratios were for body mass index (20-24, 25-30, > 30) 0.7 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.44-1.21), 1.1 (95% CI, 0.66-1.83), and 1.5 (95% CI, 0.78-2.94) respectively, for pelvic organ prolapse symptoms 6.6 (95% CI, 4.93-8.95) and for women with educated husbands (primary or secondary, higher secondary or above) 1.1 (95% CI, 0.53-2.16) and 1.7 (95% CI, 0.84-3.47), respectively. Pregnant Nepalese women commonly report LBP and/or PGP. The women experienced low disability despite severe pain intensity and poor beliefs in recovery after delivery.