Restless legs syndrome among third-trimester pregnant women attending ANC Clinic in public hospitals in North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia
- 1Department of Midwifery, College of Health Science, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
- 2College of Public Health, Ph.D. Program in Global Health and Health Security, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- 3School of Medicine, College of Health Science, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
Abstract
Background: Restless leg syndrome is uncomfortable sensations in the legs particularly while sleeping or resting at night, causing an urge to move the legs. It is a debilitating illness and has an association with quality of life and maternal and fetal outcome for pregnant women. However, RLS is underdiagnosed and poorly understood by clinicians and the general public. In Ethiopia, there was limited data on restless leg syndrome and its associated factors among pregnant women. Objective: To assess the prevalence of restless legs syndrome and associated factors among third-trimester pregnant women receiving ANC care in public hospital in North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia. Method: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November, 2023 to February, 2024. Systematic random sampling method was utilized to identify study participants. Then, an interview with a structured and pretested questionnaire and data extraction from medical charts were done for 422 women. The collected data were coded and entered using EPI DATA, and bi-variable, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done using STATA version 16. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. Result: Four hundred twenty-two eligible third-trimester pregnant women (100% response rate) participated in this study, and the prevalence was identified as 11.61%. Factors such as urban residency (AOR 5.781; 95%95% CI: 1.172, 28.501), gestational age 37 weeks or more (AOR 7.789; 95% CI: 3.027, 20.039), having a history of abortion (AOR 2.381; 95% CI: 1.081, 5.246), taking iron supplementation (AOR 0.267; 95% CI: 0.094, 0.754), and alcohol drinking during pregnancy (AOR 2.289; 95% CI: 1.049, 4.995) were significantly associated with restless legs syndrome in the third trimester of pregnancy. Conclusion: One out of ten third-trimester pregnant women had RLS, and living in urban areas, advanced gestational age, history of abortion, iron supplementation, and alcohol drinking have significant associations with RLS. Therefore, it is essential to give attention to RLS during pregnancy and provide support for pregnant women to get the recommended iron supplement and refrain from alcohol.
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BibTeX
@article{mislu2026restless,
title = {{Restless legs syndrome among third-trimester pregnant women attending ANC Clinic in public hospitals in North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia}},
author = {Esuyawkal Mislu and Abraraw Terefe and Henok Kumsa and Solomon Moges and Mulat Ayele and Fiker Chane},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0360405},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360405},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Restless legs syndrome among third-trimester pregnant women attending ANC Clinic in public hospitals in North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia
AU - Esuyawkal Mislu
AU - Abraraw Terefe
AU - Henok Kumsa
AU - Solomon Moges
AU - Mulat Ayele
AU - Fiker Chane
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0360405
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360405
AB - Background: Restless leg syndrome is uncomfortable sensations in the legs particularly while sleeping or resting at night, causing an urge to move the legs. It is a debilitating illness and has an association with quality of life and maternal and fetal outcome for pregnant women. However, RLS is underdiagnosed and poorly understood by clinicians and the general public. In Ethiopia, there was limited data on restless leg syndrome and its associated factors among pregnant women. Objective: To assess the prevalence of restless legs syndrome and associated factors among third-trimester pregnant women receiving ANC care in public hospital in North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia. Method: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November, 2023 to February, 2024. Systematic random sampling method was utilized to identify study participants. Then, an interview with a structured and pretested questionnaire and data extraction from medical charts were done for 422 women. The collected data were coded and entered using EPI DATA, and bi-variable, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done using STATA version 16. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. Result: Four hundred twenty-two eligible third-trimester pregnant women (100% response rate) participated in this study, and the prevalence was identified as 11.61%. Factors such as urban residency (AOR 5.781; 95%95% CI: 1.172, 28.501), gestational age 37 weeks or more (AOR 7.789; 95% CI: 3.027, 20.039), having a history of abortion (AOR 2.381; 95% CI: 1.081, 5.246), taking iron supplementation (AOR 0.267; 95% CI: 0.094, 0.754), and alcohol drinking during pregnancy (AOR 2.289; 95% CI: 1.049, 4.995) were significantly associated with restless legs syndrome in the third trimester of pregnancy. Conclusion: One out of ten third-trimester pregnant women had RLS, and living in urban areas, advanced gestational age, history of abortion, iron supplementation, and alcohol drinking have significant associations with RLS. Therefore, it is essential to give attention to RLS during pregnancy and provide support for pregnant women to get the recommended iron supplement and refrain from alcohol.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -