Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Discomforts among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Tissamaharama MOH Area

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is a special condition that can cause numerous physiological changes in a woman’s body. Hormonal and anatomical changes during pregnancy create various musculoskeletal discomforts. These discomforts can be varied across the trimesters and limit the activities of daily living. Objective: To identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomforts among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Tissamaharama MOH area Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among conveniently selected 293 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Tissamaharama MOH area. Pregnant women with major musculoskeletal problems before pregnancy, who have diagnosed with high-risk problems and psychiatric illnesses were excluded from the study. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Chi-square test, independent sample t-test and ANOVA were used to analyse the data. Results: The mean(±SD) age of the pregnant women was 28.37(±5.1) years. The majority (95%) were Sinhalese and only 6.80% were employed. There were 54 (19.30%), 117 (41.80%) and 109 (38.90%) pregnant women in their first, second and third trimester, respectively. In the first trimester, the most experienced musculoskeletal discomforts were lower back pain (44.44%), feet pain (25.92%) and pelvic girdle pain (22.22%). In the second trimester, the most reported discomfort was lower back pain (64.10%) followed by leg cramps (41.81%) and feet pain (34.01%). In the third trimester, lower back pain (73.39%), leg cramps (56.88%), pelvic girdle pain (44.03%) and feet pain (44.03%) were commonly reported with higher prevalence compared to first and second trimesters. There was a significant association between the level of education, body weight, trimester and the musculoskeletal discomforts (p<0.05). Conclusions: The most prevalent musculoskeletal discomfort throughout the pregnancy was lower back pain and the most discomforts were reported in the third trimester.