Work

Postpartum work ability among women with severe perineal trauma at childbirth: An exploratory cross-sectional pilot study in Sweden

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: • One third of women with severe perineal trauma report impaired work ability. • Absence of reconstructive surgery suggests reduced work ability • Greater pelvic floor life impact suggests impaired work ability. • Sick leave > 7 days suggests reduced work ability. • Pilot study points to need for expanded research on work-life consequences. Existing literature offers fragmented insights into working life following severe perineal trauma (SPT), suggesting positive and negative implications. No research has systematically examined work ability or potential risk factors associated with impaired work ability. This study assessed and compared work ability among women with SPT more than 18 months postpartum and identified potential risk factors for impaired work ability. An exploratory cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in Sweden. Participants were recruited via digital platforms (n = 197) and included women who sustained SPT during childbirth more than 18 months before data collection. Data were collected via an online questionnaire and analysed using multivariable logistic regression. Nearly one-third of participants reported impaired work ability. Absence of reconstructive surgery, increased life impact of pelvic floor disorders, and history of sick leave in adult life were identified as risk factors for impaired work ability. The complexity of health problems following SPT may affect women’s ability to work. Given the exploratory nature and limited sample size of this pilot study, larger longitudinal studies – using national registers or multicentre recruitment – are needed to confirm the observed associations and deepen understanding of the multifaceted consequences of health problems following SPT.

Source: Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare

DOI: 10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101188