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Antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercises knowledge and practice in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study in Jimma Zone public hospitals - BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Background Pelvic floor disorders, often resulting from muscle damage during pregnancy and childbirth, are a global health concern. Even though pelvic floor muscle exercises are recommended to alleviate discomfort, there is a significant lack of knowledge and practice among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Objective To assess knowledge and practice of antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercise and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Jimma zone public hospitals, southwest Ethiopia, 2024. Method An institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted at public hospitals in the Jimma Zone from January 1 to March 1, 2024. Trained data collectors employed systematic random sampling for the selection of 422 participants involved in the study. The study used bivariate and multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between dependent and independent variables, considering P-values less than 0.05 as statistically significant. Result Out of the total study participants, 32.0% (95%CI: 27.5–36.5) had good knowledge of pelvic floor muscle exercises, and 9.5% (95%CI: 6.6–12.6) had good practice of these exercises. Knowledge of pelvic floor muscle exercises was statistically associated several factors: age (AOR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.05, 6.48), educational status (AOR = 4.83; 95% CI: 1.72, 13.53), residence (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 4.76, 26.52), gravidity (AOR = 4.78; 95% CI: 2.25, 10.16), and previous cesarean section (AOR = 6.15; 95% CI: 2.46, 15.36). Similarly, the practice of pelvic floor muscle exercises was found to be statistically associated with educational status (AOR = 4.37; 95%CI: 1.53, 12.49), residence (AOR 3.76; 95%CI: 1.69, 8.36)), gravidity (AOR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1, 6.39), and previous cesarean section (AOR 2.86; 95%CI: 1.34, 6.1). Conclusion and recommendations A small proportion of pregnant women had good knowledge and practice of pelvic floor muscle exercises. Knowledge of these exercises was significantly associated with age, educational level, residence, gravidity, and previous history of cesarean section. Similarly, the practice of these exercises was significantly associated with educational level, residence, gravidity, and previous history of cesarean section. Therefore, future studies should consider using qualitative or mixed methods research designs to explore antenatal exercise from various perspectives.

Getting to this point was not a straightforward journey. The idea began as a simple research question, but transforming it into a publishable paper required long nights spent refining the protocol, revising tools, collecting data under real-world constraints, and constantly questioning whether the design was robust enough. There were moments of doubt during the analysis, especially when the results did not align neatly. The writing phase followed, demanding clarity, structure, and patience. Submitting the manuscript felt risky, as peer review would expose every weakness.

The review process itself tested my resilience. Critical comments necessitated careful revisions, reanalysis, and stronger justifications of methods and findings. Each round of feedback elevated the work to a higher standard. There were delays, formatting corrections, supplementary file adjustments, and small technical issues that loomed larger at the time. But persistence carried me through. Receiving the message that the article is now published makes every revision, correction, and moment of uncertainty worthwhile. It is not just a publication; it is proof of discipline, growth, and a commitment to advancing knowledge.

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Maternal and Child Health
Life Sciences > Health Sciences > Clinical Medicine > Gynecology > Maternal and Child Health
Pregnancy Outcome
Life Sciences > Health Sciences > Clinical Medicine > Prognosis > Pregnancy Outcome

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