Hellen Odeny
Ministry of Health, Kenya
Abstract Title: The impact of pelvic floor changes on the quality of life among postpartum mothers at Kakamega County General Hospital (KCGH), Kakamega County Kenya
Biography:
Ms. Hellen is a registered nurse/midwife with over 10 years’ experience in a clinical setting, currently pursuing PHD in Nursing from Texila America University. She graduated with Masters of Science in Advanced Nursing (Community Health Nursing and Primary Health Care) from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. She works with the county Government of Kakamega coordinating Reproductive Health as well as clinical services. She has published 3 papers from reputed journals.
Research Interest:
Background: Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) refers to a spectrum of disorders resulting from weakness, trauma, or impaired coordination of the pelvic floor muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 30–50% of women experience some form of PFD postpartum. Despite its high prevalence, PFD remains under-reported in (LMICs) including Kenya, due to cultural stigma, limited awareness, and inadequate health system capacity. Kakamega County is one of the most populous counties in Kenya, with high fertility rates and a significant proportion of women delivering in public hospitals, investigating the impact of postpartum pelvic floor changes on quality of life is both timely and critical. Understanding the prevalence, risk factors, and psychosocial impact will inform interventions to strengthen maternal healthcare services, particularly postnatal care.
Objective: This study seeked to assess the impact of pelvic floor changes on the quality of life among postpartum mothers attending Kakamega County General Hospital (KCGH), Kenya.
Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted between September 2024 and June 2025 among 300 postpartum women receiving care at KCGH. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, Instruments for evaluating pelvic floor function and health-related quality of life (Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) measuring symptom severity in urinary, colorectal, and prolapse domains. While Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7) was used to assess the quality of life in physical, social, and emotional domains). Descriptive statistics was employed to estimate prevalence and characterize symptom patterns, while inferential analyses explored associations between sociodemographic and obstetric factors with quality-of-life outcomes.
Results: The study found that 41.4% of women reported pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms postpartum, with urinary incontinence being most common. Pelvic floor changes significantly reduced quality of life in physical, social, and emotional domains. Independent predictors included multiparty, assisted vaginal delivery, prolonged second stage, and high birthweight. Despite the burden, 78% of women did not seek medical care.
Conclusion: Postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction is common among women delivering at KCGH, it significantly reduces quality of life, and is strongly associated with modifiable obstetric factors. However, care-seeking remains low due to stigma and lack of awareness. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of clinical interventions, policy reforms, and research efforts aimed at promoting pelvic floor health as an integral component of maternal healthcare.