Tega Ayenew, Desalegn Misgana, Asmare Engdaw, Addis Zemenu, Bantie Habtam Wale, Demelash Robel
Department of Midwifery, Hossana College of Health Sciences, Hossana, Ethiopia
Department of Midwifery, Hossana College of Health Sciences, Hossana, Ethiopia.
BMJ Open. 2025 Sep 14;15(9):e093134. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093134.
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is the descent of one or more pelvic organs through the vaginal canal, including the vagina, uterus, rectum, bladder, cervix, posthysterectomy vaginal cuff, and small or large bowel, which compromises a woman's physical, mental and social well-being.
This study aimed to explore how women with POP experience their living and its impact on their quality of life (QoL).
This was a qualitative study using interpretive phenomenological analysis, following in-depth structured interviews. Analysis was undertaken to identify superordinate themes relating to how women are living with POP.
3 public hospitals and 3 woredas in Gurage zone, Central Regional State, Ethiopia.
A purposive sample of 12 women who were diagnosed with POP was recruited.
Five core themes with subthemes were identified; general health judgement, POP symptom, life situation related to POP, feeling about POP and limitation in daily life/activity. The majority of respondents expressed concern that the prolapse had negatively impacted their general health and voiced hope that pelvic floor reconstruction would improve their general well-being. The majority of the informants stated that disclosing to others might significantly lower their QoL and that having the condition was extremely embarrassing. The women were most affected by the actual physical symptoms of prolapse (bulge, back pain, heaviness, bowel problems, urinary incontinence) as well as by the impact prolapse has on their sexual function.
Women with POP should be offered psychosocial support, early care and counselling because they have physical, personal, emotional, social and sleep/energy problems. Healthcare providers should take the initiative in educating women regarding prolapse and to make them aware that it is a treatable condition which can improve their QoL.
盆腔器官脱垂（POP）是指一个或多个盆腔器官通过阴道管下降，包括阴道、子宫、直肠、膀胱、宫颈、子宫切除术后阴道残端以及小肠或大肠，这会损害女性的身体、心理和社会福祉。
本研究旨在探讨盆腔器官脱垂女性的生活体验及其对生活质量（QoL）的影响。
这是一项采用解释性现象学分析的定性研究，采用深入的结构化访谈。进行分析以确定与盆腔器官脱垂女性生活方式相关的上位主题。
埃塞俄比亚中部地区州古拉格区的3家公立医院和3个行政区。
招募了12名被诊断为盆腔器官脱垂的女性作为有目的的样本。
确定了五个核心主题及子主题；总体健康判断、盆腔器官脱垂症状、与盆腔器官脱垂相关的生活状况、对盆腔器官脱垂的感受以及日常生活/活动受限。大多数受访者表示担心脱垂对她们的总体健康产生了负面影响，并表示希望盆底重建能改善她们的总体幸福感。大多数受访者表示，向他人透露病情可能会显著降低她们的生活质量，而且患有这种疾病极其尴尬。这些女性受脱垂实际身体症状（肿块、背痛、沉重感、肠道问题、尿失禁）以及脱垂对其性功能影响的影响最大。
应向盆腔器官脱垂女性提供心理社会支持、早期护理和咨询，因为她们存在身体、个人、情感、社会和睡眠/精力方面的问题。医疗保健提供者应主动对女性进行有关脱垂的教育，并让她们意识到这是一种可治疗的疾病，能够改善她们的生活质量。
