Racial Disparities in Knowledge of Pelvic Floor Disorders Among Community-Dwelling Women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate racial and ethnic differences in knowledge about preventative and curative treatments for pelvic floor disorders (PFD). METHODS: The is a secondary analysis of responses from 416 community-dwelling women, aged 19 to 98 years, living in New Haven County, CT, who completed the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire. Associations between race/ethnicity (categorized as white, African American, and other women of color [combined group of Hispanic, Asian or "other" women] and knowledge proficiency about modifiable risk factors and treatments for PFD were evaluated. Associations were adjusted for age, marital status, socioeconomic status, education, working in a medical field, and PFD history. RESULTS: Compared to white women, African American women were significantly less likely to recognize childbirth as a risk factor for urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP), to know that exercises can help control leakage, and to recognize pessaries as a treatment option for POP. Other women of color were also significantly less likely to know about risk factors, preventative strategies, and curative treatment options for POP and UI; however, these findings may not be generalizable given the heterogeneity and small size of this group. CONCLUSIONS: Significant racial disparities exist in women's baseline knowledge regarding risk factors and treatment options for POP and UI. Targeted, culturally sensitive educational interventions are essential to enhancing success in reducing the personal and economic burden of PFD, which have proven negative effects on women's quality of life.

Pelvic floor muscle training program increases muscular contractility during first pregnancy and postpartum: electromyographic study.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a training program over both pelvic floor muscles contractility and urinary symptoms in primigravid pregnant and postpartum primiparous women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A clinical, prospective and blinded trial was conducted with 33 women divided into three groups: (G1) 13 primigravid pregnant women; (G2) 10 postpartum primiparous women (49.3 ± 5.84 days), after vaginal delivery with right mediolateral episiotomy; (G3) 10 postpartum primiparous women (46.3 ± 3.6 days), after cesarean section delivery. The evaluation was carried out using digital palpation (Modified Oxford Grading Scale), pelvic floor electromyography and, for the investigation of urinary symptoms, validated questionnaires (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-short form-ICIQ-UI SF and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Overactive Bladder-ICIQ-OAB). The protocol consisted of 10 individual sessions carried out by the physiotherapist through home visits, three times a week, with 60 min duration each. The statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Spearman's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The pelvic floor muscle contractility increased after the training program (P = 0.0001) for all groups. Decreases in the scores of both ICIQ-UI SF (P = 0.009) and ICIQ-OAB (P = 0.0003) were also observed after training. CONCLUSION: Pelvic floor muscle training is an effective means for the increase in its own contractility in both primigravid pregnant and primiparous postpartum women, accompanied with a concomitant decrease in urinary symptoms.