Pelvic Health Awareness, Symptom Burden, and Barriers to Care in Rural Communities: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) — encompassing urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction — affects an estimated 25–50% of adults across the lifespan, yet remains underdiagnosed and inadequately addressed in rural communities. Rural populations face compounding barriers including provider shortages, long travel distances, financial constraints, and cultural stigma that together impede timely recognition and treatment of pelvic health conditions. This community health project employs a cross-sectional, mixed-methods survey design to assess pelvic health awareness, self-reported symptom burden, and perceived barriers to care among rural residents of all age groups. A purpose-built, anonymous questionnaire incorporating the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF), the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), and an original 10-item Pelvic Health Knowledge Scale (PHKS) will be administered across rural community sites via both paper and digital formats. Data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Findings will quantify gaps in pelvic health literacy, characterise unmet symptom burden, and rank structural and attitudinal barriers. Results will directly inform the design of targeted community education programmes and telehealth service pathways in underserved rural settings. This study addresses a critical gap in public health research and occupational physiotherapy at the intersection of rural health equity and pelvic rehabilitation.