Abstract
Background: Haemorrhoids are the most prevalent anorectal illness during pregnancy, and they might cause symptoms in some women.
Objective: To assess the Knowledge, Perceptions, and Behavioral Responses to Gestational Haemorrhoids among pregnant females aged ≥20-≤40 years from a tertiary care hospital
Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 300 women was performed in August 2025-december 2025, via a closed-ended, structured 29-question questionnaire. Interviews were conducted in Umer Bashir Hospital in District Gujrat. Volunteer patients were contacted after approval from the hospital's higher authorities. The questionnaire is primarily based on 3 domains. Socio-demographic information regarding age, education level, and occupation was obtained from. The rest of the questionnaire contained information about the current trimester of pregnancy, the history of pregnancies. Questions about the cause of haemorrhoids during pregnancy, number of surgeries during pregnancy were asked. Knowledge, perception, and behaviour towards haemorrhoids were evaluated through different questions. Data was analyzed using GraphPad 10.2. prism. Results: Among the total 300 pregnant female participants who were interviewed, 47 were aged (<20 years), 114 participants were in the age group 20–29 years, the largest of all 3 groups, were 130 participants, present in the age group 30–39 years, while 09 participants (The smallest group) were in the age group (≥40 years). Highly Significant Variations were seen in age groups like 30–39 vs. 40 years (Mean Diff: 49, p-value 0.0083). A highly significant difference in participant volume was also observed in age group 20–29 vs. 40 years (Mean Diff 50, p-value 0.0069). Most disturbing and triggering factors among female participants were constipation and anatomical pressure from the baby/uterus, which are the most prominent, particularly in the prime childbearing age group (20–39years). Chi-square Test and Šídák’s Multiple Comparisons test were applied to evaluate women who experienced haemorrhoids for specific variables. Analyzed data shed light on gaps in prenatal education, psychosocial obstacles, and symptom literacy from questions Q9-Q18. Responses of partcipants regrading use of topical creams, herbal treatments, sitz bath, and stool softeners were also analyzed.
Conclusion: Analysis of the distribution of responses from questions 19–29 revealed varying degrees of dietary and lifestyle changes; participants had embraced behavioral and medical interventions. Most of the participants reported consistently engaging in preventive behavior.