Prevalence and Socio-Cultural Determinants of Uterine Prolapse Among Women and Its Impact on Quality of Life

Abstract

In India, every five minutes, a woman dies of complications related to pregnancy and child birth. Among these, utero-vaginal prolapse (UP) is the most common clinical condition, especially amongst parous women. In India, almost one quarter, out of the total gynaecological admissions, suffer from UP. The general objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and socio-cultural determinants of Uterine Prolapse at Kalinga Hospital, Bhubaneswar, during a three month period. The study was conducted among 3216 women, who were reporting/attending the gynaecology OPD of Kalinga Hospital, Odisha with gynaecological complaints. A descriptive study design was used to assess the knowledge and health seeking practices of women regarding UP. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. The results showed that only 2.4% (75) of the patients reporting to the Gynaecology OPD were detected with UP. The study revealed the prevalence of socio-cultural determinants of UP, like early marriage, high parity, obesity, poor antenatal care and postnatal health practices, low nutritional status of women. Also the causes perceived were delivery by untrained birth attendants, forced delivery, excess pressure on lower abdomen, prolonged labour, performing heavy work (lifting and carrying loads) during pregnancy and the postnatal period and poor nutrition. The quality of life of women with UP was also affected, as they suffered from both physical and psycho-social problems. Awareness programme at community level as means of a primary prevention must be promoted and surgery for the treatment of prolapse should be easily available to women within their locality.