Knowledge, attitude and practice towards pelvic floor muscle training among childbearing women.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to identify knowledge, attitude, and practice of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and to identify the prevalence of urinary incontinence.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The method used was a cross-sectional study. Self-administered knowledge, attitude, and practice questionnaires were distributed among childbearing women attending Maternal & Child Health Clinics in the East Coast region of Malaysia.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that most respondents (N = 896) had good or moderate knowledge (80.1%) and attitudes (77.3%) regarding PFMT but most of them (87.2%) still lacked practice. However, there was no association between urinary incontinence and PFMT practice. On the contrary, married women showed a higher risk of urinary incontinence.

CONCLUSIONS

The practice of pelvic floor muscle training should be recommended and emphasized to childbearing women by healthcare professionals.