Body image: a cross-sectional study of the perception and practices of women after delivery

Women's bodies undergo major changes during pregnancy and childbirth that are typically interpreted negatively, resulting in body dissatisfaction or a negative body image. Postpartum women have diverse perceptions of their bodies, which are influenced by the strategies they employ to address social norms related to female attractiveness. This study therefore sought to examine the perception of and satisfaction with body image after delivery and practices to achieve ideal body image among postpartum women.

This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. Data from 361 postpartum women who visited the Child Welfare Clinic at three hospitals were gathered using a semi structured questionnaire. The study used a quantitative technique and a descriptive research design to accomplish this goal. A researcher-created questionnaire was utilized to collect data from 361 postpartum women who were chosen for the study using a convenience sampling technique. SPSS version 27 was used to analyze the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed, with a P value of 0.05 indicating statistical significance.

The majority (56.23%) were happy with their bodies after delivery, while 32.13% asserted that their partners were not happy with their bodies after delivery. Wearing belly bands (28.53%), consuming weight loss tea (11.36%), and eating less (9.14%) with few women exercising (1.94%) were practices women engaged in to obtain their ideal body after delivery. The factors influencing body image satisfaction among postpartum women include marital status and educational level (p ≤ 0.05).

Most postpartum women expressed satisfaction with their bodies after delivery, and it is essential to acknowledge the minority who do not share this sentiment. This study sheds light on the diverse practices employed by women to achieve their ideal body image, ranging from conventional methods such as exercise to more unconventional approaches such as wearing belly bands or consuming weight loss tea. Moreover, factors such as marital status and educational level were found to influence body image satisfaction among postpartum women.