Maternal predictors related to quality of life in pregnant women in the Northeast of Brazil

Abstract

BackgroundGestation is a period that can positively or negatively influence the life of a woman in the pregnancy-puerperal cycle. Thus, evaluating the quality of life of this population can redirect the implementation of innovative practices, with the goal of making them more effective and practical or the promotion of humanized care. The present study aimed to evaluate the predictors that influence the health-related quality of life of low-risk pregnant women, as well as to describe the main areas affected in the quality of life of pregnant women.MethodsA correlational, quantitative and cross-sectional study was carried out in two public units that provide prenatal care services and a private unit in the city of Fortaleza, a municipality in the Northeast of Brazil. The sample consisted of 261 pregnant women who were interviewed from September to November 2014. The collection instruments were a questionnaire covering sociodemographic, obstetric and quality of life variables, in addition to the Brazilian version of the Mother-Generated Index (MGI). The data were compiled and analyzed through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 20.0. A descriptive analysis was performed through the application of Pearson’s chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test and one-way ANOVA. Maternal predictors for the quality of life of pregnant woman were identified through a multivariate analysis/multiple regression.ResultsThe response rate was 100%, corresponding to 261 respondents. Occupation, parity, partner support, marital status and persons with whom the women live were the predictors that positively interfered in the quality of life of pregnant women. In contrast, gestational age, type of housing, occupation, use of illicit drugs, non-receipt of partner support and maternal age were the predictors that negatively influenced quality of life.ConclusionOur results indicate that happiness to become a mother and body image were areas with the greatest positive and negative influence on health-related quality of life, which suggests being relevant aspects in the planning and implementation of actions aimed at its improvement.

Factors affecting the quality of life among pregnant women during third trimester of pregnancy

“…In the literature, there are studies in accordance with our study results showing that the quality of life of the pregnant women who have first pregnancy is better 15 , the quality of life of women with high parity may be lower in the physical domain 16 and that the quality of life of pregnant women with chronic disease may be worse in both short and long terms 17 . In the study of Calou et al 18 gestational age and maternal age constituted 51% of the negative changes in the quality of life of pregnant women. In contrast to this result, another study showed that there was a higher prevalence of sleep in young pregnant women due to the presence of hormonal changes that are characteristic of this age group 19 .…”

Dyadic coping, marital adjustment and quality of life in couples during pregnancy: an actor–partner approach

“…The impact of DC on the couples' quality of life, however, remains unexplored at both levels. While previous studies have highlighted the importance of the partners' support (a construct that shares analogies with DC) for the quality of life of pregnant women (e.g., Calou et al, 2018;Elsenbruch et al, 2006), no studies have explored these associations using a dyadic approach.…”

Influência de variáveis do período pós-parto na qualidade de vida de puérperas

“…Uma pesquisa que avaliou a QV de 261 gestantes residentes na Região Nordeste brasileira salientou que ter ocupação menor número de filhos, ter companheiro, receber apoio do companheiro e de uma rede de suporte social interferiram positivamente na QV da gestante 17 , demonstrando que o domínio socioeconômico influencia diretamente a QV durante a gestação.…”