Gom Mirian
A study published in the Lancet Global Health has revealed that an alarming number of women experience long-term health issues as a result of childbirth globally.
The study which was published on Thursday, is part of a special Series on maternal health. It estimates that at least 40 million women are affected by postnatal conditions that persist for months or even years after giving birth yearly.
Among the most prevalent problems identified in the study is dyspareunia, or pain during sexual intercourse, which affects more than a third (35%) of postpartum women.
Other conditions include low back pain (32%), anal incontinence (19%), urinary incontinence (8-31%), anxiety (9-24%), depression (11-17%), perineal pain (11%), fear of childbirth (tokophobia) (6-15%), and secondary infertility (11%).
The authors of the paper emphasised an urgent need for greater recognition of these common postpartum problems within the healthcare system.
According to the, many of these issues occur beyond the timeframe when women typically have access to postnatal services, highlighting the importance of effective care throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, Dr Pascale Allotey, said in his remarks “Many postpartum conditions cause considerable suffering in women’s daily life long after birth, both emotionally and physically, and yet they are largely underappreciated, underrecognised and underreported.
“Throughout their lives, and beyond motherhood, women need access to a range of services from health-care providers who listen to their concerns and meet their needs – so they not only survive childbirth but can enjoy good health and quality of life.”
