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Updated: Aug 20, 2025

Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse POP Quantification System
Published on: September 20, 2018
Pelvic floor dysfunction in rural postpartum mothers in the United States: prevalence, severity, and psychosocial
Kailey Snyder1, Elizabeth Mollard2, Kari Bargstadt-Wilson3
1Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Abstract:
Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a common gynecological problem; however, women residing in rural communities may refrain from seeking treatment for PFD. The purpose of this study was to characterize severity of PFD among postpartum women residing in rural communities (<50,000 residents) in the United States and explore the demographic and psychosocial correlates of PFD.
Methods:
A survey packet comprised of the Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) and Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire (PIKQ) as well as the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Screening (EPDS), items from the Canadian Sexual Health Indicator (CSHI) survey, and demographic questions were distributed via electronic link following recruitment using social media. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with PFDI-20 score.
Results:
Participants (n = 383) have limited pelvic health knowledge (PIKQ) despite self-reporting moderate symptoms of dysfunction (PFDI-20). Over half of women scored ≥14 on the EPDS, indicating probable depression. Women with high scores on the EPDS had greater odds of reporting moderate/severe PFD. Women that identified as Black and/or having a college degree were more likely to report moderate/severe PFD.
Conclusion:
Rural women require further support to improve their physical and psychological health in the postpartum period.
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