Determining the prevalence of patterns of pregnancy-induced pelvic girdle pain and low back pain in urban and rural populations: A cross-sectional study

Background: Biomechanical changes during pregnancy impose postural deviations, leading to various musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Commonly noted pain syndromes are the pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and low back pain (LBP), which were experienced by pregnant women globally. There is a prevalence of pregnancy-related PGP (PPGP) and pregnancy-related LBP (PLBP) in Western population. Data of the same in Indian pregnant population lack evidence. Objective: To find the rates of incidence and prevalence of different patterns of PPGP and PLBP in the urban and rural pregnant women. Materials and Methods: A total of 580 pregnant women were screened for inclusion criteria. Confirmation of diagnosis of PGP and LBP was done for 457 subjects using Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI) questionnaire and the pelvic girdle questionnaire (PGQ). Once diagnosed, all participants were subjected to nine clinical tests to differentiate the site of pain and to classify them accordingly into three different groups, namely group A (LBP), group B [posterior pelvic pain (PPP)], and group C [anterior pelvic pain (APP)]. Results: The point prevalence of pain in group A (LBP) was 31%, in group B (PPP) was 65%, and in group C (APP) was 15%. The prevalence of PGP and LBP was 75% in the urban pregnant population and 25% in the rural pregnant population. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of PPP (65%) is higher than that of LBP (31%) and APP (15%). Also PPP is reported to be highest in primiparous with gestational age of 38 weeks. The urban population showed 75% and rural population showed 25% of PGP and LBP