Abstract
Pelvic-perineal disorders are a common postpartum complication. They significantly impair women's quality of life. Despite international recommendations, perineal rehabilitation remains poorly integrated into postnatal care in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This study aims to determine the prevalence of pelvic-perineal disorders, assess the frequency of perineal rehabilitation prescriptions, and identify the main obstacles to integrating physiotherapy into care protocols in Kinshasa hospitals. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in three hospitals in Kinshasa (Kingasani Hospital Center, Mont-Amba Hospital Center, and Renaissance University Hospital Center). The study included 110 postpartum women and 68 healthcare professionals. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires and subsequently analyzed. Analysis of the results reveals that perineal pain is the most frequent symptom (36.0% at CHK, 43.3% at CHM-Amba, and 43.3% at CHUR). Urinary leakage was present in 28.0%, 36.7%, and 36.7% of women, respectively. Pelvic-perineal disorders had a significant impact on the quality of life for 70–74% of the participants. None of the 110 women surveyed received a prescription or a program for perineal rehabilitation. The lack of prescriptions constitutes the primary obstacle to accessing physiotherapy care in the three facilities studied. Pelvic-perineal disorders are common among postpartum women in Kinshasa, yet perineal rehabilitation remains virtually non-existent within the care pathway. Systematic integration of physiotherapy could facilitate the prevention and management of these disorders, which significantly affect women's quality of life after childbirth.
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