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Background <p>Pregnancy and the postpartum period are associated with a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, functional limitations, and pelvic floor dysfunction, which can contribute to short- and long-term disability. Physiotherapy is an effective intervention for these conditions; however, access to rehabilitation services remains limited in low-resource settings.</p> Aims <p>To assess the burden of physiotherapy-amenable symptoms and to identify unmet rehabilitation needs among pregnant and postpartum women attending a rural healthcare facility.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 344 pregnant and postpartum women at a rural tertiary healthcare centre. Symptom burden and functional limitations were assessed using validated instruments, including the Numerical Rating Scale for pain, Oswestry Disability Index, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory, and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Urinary Incontinence Short Form. Awareness of physiotherapy, referral exposure, perceived barriers, and service utilization were recorded descriptively.</p> Results <p>A substantial proportion of participants reported clinically significant symptoms, including moderate to severe pain (61.6%), functional disability, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Despite this high symptom burden, physiotherapy utilization was almost absent, with only 0.58% of participants reporting access to rehabilitation services. Lack of awareness of physiotherapy (62.9%) and absence of referral from obstetric care providers were the most frequently reported barriers. The majority of women with functional limitations therefore remained untreated, indicating a pronounced unmet rehabilitation need.</p> Conclusion <p>Pregnant and postpartum women in this rural, low-resource setting experience significant physiotherapy-amenable functional limitations that are largely unaddressed. Improving awareness, strengthening referral pathways, and integrating physiotherapy into routine maternal care are essential to reduce preventable disability and address inequities in access to rehabilitation services.</p>

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Unmet rehabilitation needs during pregnancy and the postpartum period in a rural, low-resource setting: a cross-sectional study

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月15日

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  • Likhit Manjunath,
  • Achala G S,
  • Naveen Kumar Inbaraj

摘要

Background

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are associated with a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, functional limitations, and pelvic floor dysfunction, which can contribute to short- and long-term disability. Physiotherapy is an effective intervention for these conditions; however, access to rehabilitation services remains limited in low-resource settings.

Aims

To assess the burden of physiotherapy-amenable symptoms and to identify unmet rehabilitation needs among pregnant and postpartum women attending a rural healthcare facility.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 344 pregnant and postpartum women at a rural tertiary healthcare centre. Symptom burden and functional limitations were assessed using validated instruments, including the Numerical Rating Scale for pain, Oswestry Disability Index, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory, and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Urinary Incontinence Short Form. Awareness of physiotherapy, referral exposure, perceived barriers, and service utilization were recorded descriptively.

Results

A substantial proportion of participants reported clinically significant symptoms, including moderate to severe pain (61.6%), functional disability, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Despite this high symptom burden, physiotherapy utilization was almost absent, with only 0.58% of participants reporting access to rehabilitation services. Lack of awareness of physiotherapy (62.9%) and absence of referral from obstetric care providers were the most frequently reported barriers. The majority of women with functional limitations therefore remained untreated, indicating a pronounced unmet rehabilitation need.

Conclusion

Pregnant and postpartum women in this rural, low-resource setting experience significant physiotherapy-amenable functional limitations that are largely unaddressed. Improving awareness, strengthening referral pathways, and integrating physiotherapy into routine maternal care are essential to reduce preventable disability and address inequities in access to rehabilitation services.