A Study on Back Pain, Pain Disability, and Labour Pain of Postpartum Women

Shim, Mi Jung

doi:2004.10.1.8

Korean J Women Health Nurs > Volume 10(1); 2004 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2004;10(1):8-14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2004.10.1.8

A Study on Back Pain, Pain Disability, and Labour Pain of Postpartum Women

¹Department of Nursing, Kwangju Health College, Korea. jungs@www.kjhc.ac.kr
²Chonnam Research Institute of Nursing Science, Chonnam National University, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to look into back pain, pain disability, labour pain, and related areas of pain experienced by postpartum women. METHOD: A survey about pain including a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry pain disability, and pain drawing was used in a descriptive research method on 98 women 2-3 days after delivery. RESULT: 57.1% of those surveyed reported experiencing back pain before pregnancy. 75.5% reported experiencing back pain during pregnancy. The average starting time of back pain for pregnant women was 2.9 months into pregnancy. 48.8% reported the most severe back pain in the last trimester of pregnancy, while most women complained of left and right pubic pain and lumbar area pain during pregnancy. Statistical relations were calculated and menstrual symptoms (F=5.938, p=0.004), back pain prior to pregnancy (F=4.714, p=0.000), back pain during pregnancy (F=-3.429, p=0.001), and back pain disability prior to pregnancy (F=-1.994). CONCLUSION: There is a relation in postpartum women's back pain between back pain prior to pregnancy and back pain during pregnancy. Pelvic examinations early in pregnancy can determine if back pain will change for the worse or relapse. Therefore, the application of a pain relieving nursing intervention is needed.

Key Words: Back pain; Pregnancy; Disability; Puerperium