Self-Reported Diastasis Recti Abdominis and Associated Factors Among Jordanian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a common postpartum condition that may coexist with pelvic floor dysfunction and impact quality of life; however, data from Middle Eastern populations are scarce, and awareness among affected women remains poorly understood. This cross-sectional study included 248 Jordanian women with at least one previous pregnancy who completed a structured questionnaire assessing demographic and obstetric characteristics, lifestyle factors, self-reported DRA prevalence, clinical presentation, and awareness regarding DRA. Chi-square tests and multivariate binary logistic regression were used to identify independent predictors. The prevalence of self-reported DRA-compatible signs among the study sample was 62.5% (n = 155). Multivariate analysis identified symptoms as the strongest predictor (≥3 symptoms: OR = 5.57, 95% CI: 2.68–11.57, p < 0.001; 1–2 symptoms: OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.20–3.83, p = 0.010), followed by heavy lifting after delivery (OR = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.44–5.26, p = 0.002), and younger age (18–25 years: OR = 4.37, 95% CI: 1.67–11.43, p = 0.003; 31–35 years: OR = 3.36, 95% CI: 1.25–9.03, p = 0.016). Regular physical activity was protective (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21–0.75, p = 0.005). While 58.9% had heard of DRA, only 17.7% had received professional advice, and 88.7% desired more education. DRA affects a substantial proportion of Jordanian women, with symptoms as the strongest independent predictor, followed by heavy lifting after delivery and younger age; regular physical activity was associated with lower odds of self-reported DRA-compatible signs. Despite high prevalence, awareness and professional advice are inadequate, highlighting an urgent need for targeted postpartum screening, patient education, and healthcare professional training to improve DRA recognition and management in Jordan and similar settings.