Awareness and Knowledge of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Among Pregnant Women: A Questionnaire Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) prevalence ranges from 31% to 62% among pregnant women, particularly during the third trimester. It is characterized by symptoms such as numbness, tingling and pain in the hands and wrist, resulting from increased fluid retention and hormonal fluctuations that compress the nerve. Early diagnosis and appropriate management are crucial, as untreated CTS can lead to persistent symptoms and functional impairments. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 95 first-time pregnant women (primiparous) aged between 26 and 30 years, living in and around Bangalore. The aim of the study was to assess their existing knowledge and level of awareness about CTS. A self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection, which included three main sections: demographic details, knowledge, and awareness. Each section had an equal number of questions. The collected data was analyzed using appropriate statistical methods to draw meaningful conclusions.. Results: Among 95 primiparous pregnant women aged between 26-30 years involved in this study 7.4% were diagnosed with CTS. The average knowledge score was 10.715 ± 3.044, whereas average awareness score was: awareness regarding causes 3.315 ±3.255, awareness regarding prevention 4.157 ± 2.878 and awareness regarding activities 4.168 ± 2.412. These finding indicates that knowledge and awareness were significantly less in Bangalore population.Conclusion: These findings indicate that knowledge and awareness regarding CTS among primiparous pregnant women were not sufficient, most of them were not aware about the condition and it is affecting their QoL and work life. Complete examination of hand and wrist during antenatal check-up needs to be done