Abstract
ObjectiveThe present study examined back pain (BP) and/or urinary incontinence (UI) impact on the ability to perform daily tasks at 12 months after childbirth in healthy reproductive women who sought maternity care in community based family practice clinics.MethodsThis study is a secondary analysis from the All Our Babies Study, a prospective, community-based pregnancy cohort in Calgary, Alberta. Maternal self-reported information on demographics, lifestyle, experiences with pregnancy and childbirth, occurrence of BP, UI and consequent impairment of daily tasks were collected by questionnaires administered before 25 weeks, at 34-36 weeks gestation and at 4 and 12 months postpartum. The occurrence and severity of BP and UI at one year after childbirth was assessed using descriptive and bivariate analyses. Logistic regression models examined the association between demographic and obstetrical variables and the severity of functional impairment due to UI and BP.ResultsFrom 1574 women with singleton pregnancies included in the study, 1212 (77%) experienced BP, 773 (49%) UI, and 620 (40%) both BP and UI. From the 821 women reporting impairment of daily tasks due to BP, 199 (24 %) were moderately and 90 (11%) severely affected with the remainder, 532 (64%) being mildly affected. From 267 women with functional impairment due to UI, 52 (19%) reported moderately to severe impairment in their ability to perform daily tasks. Obesity and parity were risk factors for impairment of daily functioning due to BP, whereas obesity and vaginal delivery increased the risk of moderate to severe impairment due to UI.ConclusionsBP and UI are common occurrences 1 year after childbirth. Maternal performance of daily tasks and women’s health and quality of life are more often impaired due to BP than UI. Our study brings new evidence of the risk factors that predict severity and impact of these conditions on women functioning at 12 months postpartum.
Highlights
From 1574 women with singleton pregnancies included in the study, 1212 (77%) experienced back pain (BP), 773 (49%) urinary incontinence (UI), and 620 (40%) both BP and UI
Our study brings new evidence of the risk factors that predict severity and impact of these conditions on women functioning at 12 months postpartum
Current evidence indicates that urinary incontinence (UI) and back pain (BP) following pregnancy and childbirth are associated with functional impairment and lifestyle alterations for postpartum women
Summary
Current evidence indicates that urinary incontinence (UI) and back pain (BP) following pregnancy and childbirth are associated with functional impairment and lifestyle alterations for postpartum women. The number of women reporting these afflictions raises quality of life issues and medical concerns associated with childbirth. The prevalence of UI varies widely with reports from 6 to 43% [2] and most recently to affect 18.6 to 60% of postpartum women [3]. The prevalence of BP in postpartum has been reported between 3.9 and 89.9% [4]. Recent studies suggest a relationship between UI and BP in general population. A similar relationship between UI and BP was observed during pregnancy, pregnant women who had UI having increased odds for reporting coexistent BP [9]. The relationship between UI and BP in postpartum is understudied and underreported
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