DIASTASIS RECTI AMONG PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN IN KANO, NIGERIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Diastasis Recti (DR) is a common muscular condition often present during and after pregnancy. This cross-sectional correlational study investigated the prevalence of DR among pregnant and postpartum women. A total of 250 pregnant and postpartum women were recruited using convenience sampling technique from obstetrics and gynaecology department, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. Age, body mass, height, BMI, parity, trimester, duration of DR postpartum, location of DR and DR status was recorded for each participant. Presence of DR was confirmed using the finger width method. Descriptive statistics of mean, SD, percentage were used to describe the data and determine the prevalence. Inferential statistics of Pearson's and Spearman's correlation were used to analyse the relationship between prevalence of DR and age, parity and duration of DR postpartum. Chi square was computed to determine the difference in prevalence of DR across trimesters. The result of this study indicated high prevalence of DR in post-partum and pregnant women (84% and 64.7% respectively); the most common location of DR was at the umbilicus in both pregnant and postpartum women. Prevalence of DR was high among the multigravida; and a significant relationship was found between prevalence of DR and age and parity of participants. There was a significant difference in prevalence of DR across the trimesters. It can be concluded that prevalence of DR among pregnant and postpartum women is high; age and parity are determinants of DR prevalence. Evaluation of DR should be considered as routine assessment in both pregnant and postpartum women.