Effects of abdominal girdle belt on pulmonary function variables of postpartum women in Enugu, Nigeria: a quasi-experimental study

Figures & data

Table 1. Age and select anthropometric characteristics of the participants.

Variables	GBG (n = 19)	CG (n = 13)	All (n = 32)
Age(years)	29.74 ± 4.29	30.08 ± 3.94	29.88 ± 4.09
Height(m)	1.50 ± 0.22	2.67 ± 4.00	1.97 ± 2.56
Weight(kg)	77.47 ± 17.09	73.76 ± 12.15	75.96 ± 2.56
Abdominal girth(cm)	96.10 ± 12.21	92.76 ± 6.77	94.75 ± 10.34
BMI(kg/m^2)	36.00 ± 13.19	31.49 ± 11.41	34.16 ± 12.51

GBG: girdle belt group; CG: control group; kg: kilogram; cm: centimetres; m: metres; n: number.

Table 2. Comparison of the clinical characteristics and baseline pulmonary function variables of the study participants.

Variables	GBG (n = 19)	CG (n = 13)	χ2	p Value
Postpartum duration (weeks)
6-10	17 (89.47)	11 (84.6)	0.167	0.683
11–14	2 (11.1)	2 (15.4)
History of cholesterol
Yes	–	–	–	–
No	19 (100)	13 (100)
Hypertension
Yes	–	1 (7.7)	1.509	0.219
No	19 (100)	12 (92.3)
Previous history of respiratory disorders
Yes	–	–	–	–
No	019 (100)	13 (100)
Cigarette/tobacco Smoking
Yes	–	–	–	–
No	19 (100)	13 (100)
High blood sugar
Yes	–	–	–	–
No	19 (100)	13 (100)
Alcohol consumption
Yes	12 (63.2)	2 (15.4)	7.158*	0.007
No	7 (36.8)	11 (84.6)
Practice of physical exercise
Yes	7 (36.8)	1 (7.7)	3.498	0.061
No	12 (63.2)	12 (92.3)
Practice of Abdominal exercise
Yes	6 (31.6)	2 (15.4)	1.080	0.299
No	13 (68.4)	11 (84.6)
Pulmonary function variables	GBG (n = 19)	CG (n = 13)	T value	p Value
SBP	122.26 ± 15.00	130.23 ± 15.83	1.444	0.159
DBP	80.26 ± 11.27	82.77 ± 14.18	0.615	0.544
Pulse rate	83.94 ± 12.50	85.85 ± 10.76	0.466	0.659
Respiratory rate	23.37 ± 3.34	22.31 ± 3.04	−0.915	0.367
SPO2	96.79 ± 1.69	97.15 ± 1.07	0.689	0.496
FVC(L)	2.05 ± 0.72	2.17 ± 0.56	0.491	0.627
FEV1(L)	1.53 ± 0.42	1.72 ± 0.38	0.215	0.832
PEF(L/M)	2.80 ± 0.91	3.51 ± 1.07	0.553	0.188
FEV1%	82.92 ± 22.03	81.92 ± 13.65	0.414	0.998
FEF25%	2.51 ± 1.01	3.23 ± 1.06	1.994	0.055
FEF75%	1.26 ± 0.54	1.42 ± 0.49	1.164	0.254
FEF2575%	1.97 ± 0.84	2.12 ± 0.62	0.397	0.577

GBG: girdle belt group; CG: control group; χ2: Chi-square value; p: significant at ≤0.05; FEV₁: Forced expiratory volume in first second; FVC: forced vital capacity; FEF: Forced expiratory flow; PEF: peak expiratory flow; SPO₂: oxygen saturation rate; SBP: systolic blood pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure.

Table 3. Comparisons of changes in pulmonary functions and oxygen saturation (SPO2) following intervention (after 8 weeks).

Variables	GBG	CG	t-value	p Value
FVC (L)	0.11 ± 0.46	−0.16 ± 0.63	0.250	0.804
FEV1 (L)	−0.10 ± 0.44	0.19 ± 0.43	−0.582	0.565
PEF (L/M)	−1.52 ± 1.39	0.06 ± 1.77	−2.670	0.012^*
FEV1%	2.75 ± 1.77	3.44 ± 25.06	−0.37	0.971
FEF25%	0.32 ± 0.63	−0.11 ± 0.59	0.901	0.394
FEF75%	−0.28 ± 0.11	0.05 ± 0.32	−1.386	0.203
FEF2575%	−0.80 ± 0.00	0.15 ± 0.56	0.109	0.916
SPO2	0.42 ± 2.59	0.23 ± 1.24	−0.246	0.808

GBG: girdle belt group; CG: control group; FEV₁: Forced expiratory volume in first second; FVC: forced vital capacity; FEF: Forced expiratory flow; PEF: peak expiratory flow; SPO₂: oxygen saturation rate; SBP: systolic blood pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure.

^* denotes that p is significant at ≤0.05.