Antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercises knowledge and practice in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study in Jimma Zone public hospitals

BACKGROUND: Pelvic floor disorders, often resulting from muscle damage during pregnancy and childbirth, are a global health concern. Even though pelvic floor muscle exercises are recommended to alleviate discomfort, there is a significant lack of knowledge and practice among pregnant women in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge and practice of antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercise and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Jimma zone public hospitals, southwest Ethiopia, 2024. METHOD: An institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted at public hospitals in the Jimma Zone from January 1 to March 1, 2024. Trained data collectors employed systematic random sampling for the selection of 422 participants involved in the study. The study used bivariate and multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between dependent and independent variables, considering P-values less than 0.05 as statistically significant. RESULT: Out of the total study participants, 32.0% (95%CI: 27.5-36.5) had good knowledge of pelvic floor muscle exercises, and 9.5% (95%CI: 6.6-12.6) had good practice of these exercises. Knowledge of pelvic floor muscle exercises was statistically associated several factors: age (AOR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.05, 6.48), educational status (AOR = 4.83; 95% CI: 1.72, 13.53), residence (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 4.76, 26.52), gravidity (AOR = 4.78; 95% CI: 2.25, 10.16), and previous cesarean section (AOR = 6.15; 95% CI: 2.46, 15.36). Similarly, the practice of pelvic floor muscle exercises was found to be statistically associated with educational status (AOR = 4.37; 95%CI: 1.53, 12.49), residence (AOR 3.76; 95%CI: 1.69, 8.36)), gravidity (AOR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1, 6.39), and previous cesarean section (AOR 2.86; 95%CI: 1.34, 6.1). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: A small proportion of pregnant women had good knowledge and practice of pelvic floor muscle exercises. Knowledge of these exercises was significantly associated with age, educational level, residence, gravidity, and previous history of cesarean section. Similarly, the practice of these exercises was significantly associated with educational level, residence, gravidity, and previous history of cesarean section. Therefore, future studies should consider using qualitative or mixed methods research designs to explore antenatal exercise from various perspectives.