Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Health-Preserving Attitudes According to Sociodemographic Factors

TL;DR

This study explores how sociodemographic factors influence women's health-preserving behaviors related to pelvic organ prolapse.

Contribution

The study identifies demographic patterns linked to knowledge and awareness of pelvic organ prolapse prevention.

Findings

Women with higher education and younger age showed better knowledge of POP prevention.

Knowledge levels were lower among women in less populated areas.

Overall awareness of conservative treatment methods remains limited.

Abstract

Objectives: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) disorders are a significant problem with a society-wide dimension, affecting the quality of life of many women around the world. The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of sociodemographic factors on health-preserving behaviors in relation to pelvic organ prolapse in women of reproductive age. Method: The survey was conducted using a questionnaire made available electronically and a paper questionnaire distributed to female patients of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Hospital of the Karol Marcinkowski Medical University in Poznan. In total, 160 women aged 15–49 years voluntarily participated in the study. The distribution of variables was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test. The Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA tests were used for comparisons between groups. Comparisons between assessment scores and self-assessment of knowledge were made using Wilcoxon’s paired rank order test and the Chi2 NW (highest reliability) test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The level of knowledge about POP prevention and conservative treatment methods is low. The group with a higher level of knowledge was characterized by younger age, higher education, and living in areas with a large population. Conclusions: The results suggest only a partial understanding of the topic of pelvic organ prolapse, while lacking full awareness of prevention.