Table 2. Episodes of postpartum ill health among postpartum women in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
| Symptom | Number experienced | Sought medical care | Admitted to hospital | Number of days in hospital | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | n | %1 | n | %1 | n | %2 | |
| Pain/Infection at LSCS site | 19 | 11.8 | 8 | 5.0 | 5 | 3.1 | 15 | 10.9 |
| Backache | 27 | 16.8 | 14 | 8.7 | 5 | 3.1 | 22 | 16.1 |
| Lower abdominal pain | 40 | 24.8 | 19 | 11.8 | 3 | 1.9 | 15 | 10.9 |
| Pain/Infection at episiotomy site | 25 | 15.5 | 15 | 9.3 | 3 | 1.9 | 14 | 10.2 |
| Vaginal bleeding | 9 | 5.6 | 4 | 2.5 | 2 | 1.2 | 6 | 4.4 |
| Fever | 11 | 6.8 | 9 | 5.6 | 3 | 1.9 | 23 | 16.8 |
| Breast engorgement | 8 | 5.1 | 3 | 1.9 | - | - | - | - |
| Dyspnoea | 3 | 1.9 | 1 | 0.6 | 2 | 1.2 | 4 | 2.9 |
| Headache | 2 | 1.2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Hypertension | 4 | 2.5 | 4 | 2.5 | 1 | 0.6 | 18 | 13.2 |
| Leg swelling | 2 | 1.2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mastitis | 2 | 1.2 | 2 | 1.2 | 2 | 1.2 | 10 | 7.3 |
| Heartburn | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 | - | - | - | - |
| Upper abdominal pain | 1 | 0.6 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nausea/Vomiting | 2 | 1.2 | 2 | 1.2 | - | - | - | - |
| Dizziness | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 | - | - | - | - |
| Other | 4 | 2.5 | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 | 10 | 7.3 |
| Total | 161 | 100.0 | 84 | 52.2 | 27 | 16.8 | 137 | 100.0 |
1 Percentage was calculated out of women with reported episodes of ill health (n = 161)
2 Percentage was calculated out of total number of hospital days (n = 137)
LSCS, Lower Segment Caesarean Section