Awareness about the Role of Physical Therapy in Post-Partum Females among Gynecologists

Abstract

Abstract   Background: The role of physiotherapy in obstetrics and gynecology that includes gestation period, childbirth, and antenatal and postnatal care is important. It is essential to create awareness about physiotherapy in hospital setups among gynecologists to provide better health care services to females. Objective: To assess awareness among gynecologists regarding the role of physical therapy in post-partum females. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted six months after the approval of the synopsis from September 2020 to January 2021. Data were collected from 75 gynecologists of Lahore and Sahiwal using non-probability convenient sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used to take data from gynecologists after taking written consent from the participants. Using SPSS version 21, descriptive statistics like frequency and percentage were calculated for categorical variables. For quantitative data, means and standard deviations were estimated. Results: It was shown that postpartum physical therapy services were known to 57(76%) of gynecologists. Among them, 11(14.7%) gynecologists do refer patients, 14(18.7%) do not refer at all, 28(37.3%) refer when required, and 22(29.3%) refer clients very rarely to the physiotherapy department. Conclusion: It was concluded that the majority of the gynecologists were aware of postpartum physical therapy for women. But there is a lack of referral systems in our settings because they do not have any proper gynecological physiotherapy settings affiliated with them. Only a few gynecologists refer patients for Physiotherapy services. *Corresponding Author: Ghania Nazar, University Institute of Physical Therapy, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan, Email: ghanianazar555@gmail.com Citation: Ghania Nazar. 2021. Awareness about the role of physical therapy in post-partum females among gynecologists. The Healer Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, 1(1):21-26.