"We don't talk about it enough": Perceptions of pelvic health among postpartum women in rural communities.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

A descriptive qualitative study was conducted to explore perceptions and experiences related to pelvic health in the postpartum period among a cohort of women residing in communities with less than 50,000 residents.

Methods

A semi-structured interview approach guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior was used. Postpartum individuals (<6 months since childbirth) were interviewed in the fall/winter of 2021-2022.

Results

Specific to individuals' attitudes toward pelvic health, women viewed Kegels as an important component to improving pelvic health but had a negative attitude toward their own pelvic health, often identifying their pelvic floor as "weak." The subjective norms influencing a woman's perception were typically, a positive influence by family/friends a

SUBMITTER: Snyder K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9510969 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature