Awareness and Perception of Manual Therapy in Improving Women’s Fertility among Physiotherapists in Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Problem Statement: Infertility is a global health care concern and is clinically defined as failure
to attain clinical pregnancy despite 12 months or more unprotected coitus. Manual therapy (MT),
commonly used in physiotherapy, is used as part of infertility management. To date, no research
concerning MT in infertility management in Malaysia.
Objective: To determine the awareness and perception of MT in improving women’s fertility
among Physiotherapists in Malaysia.
Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study with a total of 222 participants recruited via nonprobability sampling design. Participants are physiotherapists in Malaysia with a minimum
qualification of Diploma in Physiotherapy. The survey tool used is a pre-validated structured
questionnaire distributed to the participants through an online platform.
Results and Discussion: Majority participants were female with age range of 23-32 years and
from state of Selangor. Out of 222 responses, only 12 participants (5.4%) have experience in
treating infertility cases using MT. Despite lack of awareness of majority participants (50.5%) on
MT as management for infertility, participants exhibit interest on the use of MT in clinical practice
in women’s health cases concerning infertility.
Conclusion: Physiotherapists in Malaysia exhibit low awareness on the utilization of MT in
improving women’s fertility. Survey further reveals positive perception and interest amongst
physiotherapists in the application of MT as a management in women’s infertility cases.