Factors Affecting the Quality of Life and the Illness Acceptance of Pregnant Women with Diabetes

Abstract

The paper contains an analysis of the factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) and the illness acceptance of diabetic pregnant women. The study was performed between January and April, 2013. It included 114 pregnant women with diabetes, hospitalized in the High Risk Pregnancy Wards of several hospitals in Lublin, Poland. The study used a diagnostic survey with questionnaires. The research instruments used were: The WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire and the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). The women’s general quality of life was slightly higher than their perceived general health. A higher quality of life was reported by women with a very good financial standing, very good perceived health, moderate self-reported knowledge of diabetes, and also by those only treated with diet and stating that the illness did not interfere with their lives (p < 0.05). Women with a very good financial standing (p < 0.009), high self-reported health (p < 0.002), and those treated with by means of a diet (p < 0.04) had a higher acceptance of illness. A higher acceptance of illness contributes to a higher general quality of life and a better perception of one’s health.

Most frequent problems of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

“…Gestational diabetes is associated with the necessity of changing one's lifestyle, numerous limitations for the patient and may have a considerable impact on women's mental health and quality of life [11]. Chudiak et al [12] and the guidelines issued by the Polish Gynecological Society [13] point to the positive effect of health education on both physical and mental functioning.…”

The Relationship between Acceptance of Illness and Quality of Life in Mothers with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

“…The study population consisted of all pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus referred to al-Zahra Hospital in Rasht, and were studied based on census method. The sample size was estimated according to previous studies [9]. Therefore, the required sample size was determined as 150 pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus.…”

“…it, can lead to adverse outcomes of pregnancy and decrease in quality of life. Its prevalence is 3% in women at reproductive age, and 2% to 6% for pregnant women [2,3]. The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in the world varies from 1 to 14 percent, depending on demographic factors and diagnostic criteria.…”

“…Gestational diabetes mellitus, as an invisible illness, can lead to adverse outcomes of pregnancy and decrease in quality of life by changing the routine prenatal care. Quality of life is a multi-dimensional concept, which World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as: "The individual's perception of their position in life, which is formed based on the culture and value systems, and related to the goals, expectations, interests, standards and life experiences" [2]. Also, quality of life involves different dimensions of physical, psychological and social health and comfort of an individual.…”

Women’s quality of life dynamics in postpartum period

“…По данным отчета Федеральной службы государственной статистики о состоянии здоровья беременных, рожениц, родильниц и новорожден-ных, за последние 10 лет на 43 % увеличилось ко-личество недоношенных детей на фоне повысив-шейся в полтора раза частоты преждевременных родов 1 . Кроме того, за последние 5 лет к числу за-болеваний, осложняющих процесс беременности, стали причисляться венозные осложнения и геста-ционный сахарный диабет, значительно влияющие не только на психофизиологическое, но и социаль-ное функционирование [12]. Беременность и рож-дение ребенка являются стрессовой ситуацией для женского организма и сопровождаются существен-ным напряжением функционального состояния раз-личных физиологических систем, которое может стать причиной нарушения адаптации организма в целом [4].…”