Pelvic floor disorder prevalence and risk factors in a cohort of parous Ugandan women.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) and associated risk factors among parous Ugandan women.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of parous Ugandan women. Demographics and assessment for PFD were obtained. The presence of PFD was defined by participant symptom report, standardized questionnaires, and standard physical examination (pelvic organ prolapse quantification [POP-Q] and cough stress test [CST]).

Results: A total of 159 women were enrolled in the study between June 2022 and June 2023. The median age was 35 years and median parity was 4. Forty-four (28%) women in the cohort reported symptoms of urinary incontinence. No women reported symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse or anal incontinence. Seventy-two (46%) participants had a positive CST and 93 (58.3%) had stage II or greater prolapse based on the POP-Q. Cesarean section was found to have a protective effect for the development of PFD (odds ratio [OR] 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07-0.59, P = 0.004).

Conclusion: PFDs are prevalent among parous Ugandan women at rates similar to cohorts in other low- and middle-income countries. Cesarean section seems to be a protective factor against developing PFDs.