Burden and Functional Impact of Postpartum Low Back Pain Among Women in Swat, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Abstract
Background: Postpartum low back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that may impair maternal mobility, infant care, daily function, and quality of life, yet evidence from low-resource settings remains limited. Objective: To determine the prevalence of postpartum low back pain and describe its demographic, functional, postpartum-duration, and treatment-related patterns among women attending a tertiary care hospital in Swat, Pakistan. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 377 postpartum women at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Swat, Pakistan. Participants were recruited using random sampling and interviewed using a structured questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, postpartum duration, pain presence, pain persistence, functional impact, treatment-seeking behavior, treatment type, and perceived improvement. Pain severity was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS version 26.0. Results: The prevalence of postpartum low back pain was 87.0% (328/377; 95% CI: 83.2–90.1). Most participants were aged 18–30 years (78.2%), educated (57.3%), and unemployed (73.7%). Pain was most frequently reported at 6–12 months postpartum (30.8%), and 196 women (52.0%) reported pain beyond six months. Functional limitation was slight in 41.4%, moderate in 34.7%, and severe in 8.0% of participants. Although 78.0% sought treatment, medication was the predominant approach, while physical therapy was reported by only 9.8%. Conclusion: Postpartum low back pain was highly prevalent and frequently persistent beyond six months, highlighting the need for routine musculoskeletal screening, maternal education, and physiotherapy-based postpartum rehabilitation.
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