Postpartum Health-Related Quality of Life Among Mothers: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Rawalpindi

Abstract

Objective: The study was conducted to assess the maternal health related quality of life and its affecting factors in postpartum period.
 Study Design: Analytical cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was done in a tertiary care hospital, Rawalpindi, from Mar to Jun 2019.Methodology: By using non-probability purposive sampling technique, sample of 268 women in post-partum period were interviewed. A validated short form-36 (SF-36) Questionnaire was administered to women aged 15-49 years, who had spontaneous vaginal delivery or cesarean section, and were within six weeks up to six months of postpartum period. Data was analyzed by using SPSS-22. A p-value of ≤0.05 was taken as significant.
 Results: Highest median scores were reported in physical functioning 75 (55, 90) and social functioning 75 (75, 62). Lowest median scores were reported in energy fatigue 37 (31, 50) body pain 45 (22, 62) and general health 45 (30, 60). Health-related quality of life scores showed significant difference (p-value <0.05) among subgroups of time since delivery, mode of delivery, education of women, husband’s education and antenatal visits.
 Conclusion: The study showed that health related quality of life score of postpartum women was moderately affected; where in physical and social functioning domains strongly contributes in better quality of life. Energy/fatigue, body pain and general health are the weakest domains adversely affecting quality of life. Women in subacute postpartum phase, with cesarean section, lower educational status and less than 04 antenatal visits are associated with poorer HRQOL.

Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors in Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study

“…However, the stage at diagnosis is negatively associated with physical function, bodily pain, mental health, and PCS. Similar findings have been reported elsewhere from Turkey [ 52 ], Bahrain ( 26 ), Saudi Arabia [ 17 ; 18 ], and Malaysia [ 33 ]. Furthermore, Ogce et al [ 53 ] suggested that BC survivors with advanced stages of cancer have more difficulty coping strategies and experience greater distress than those with early-stage cancer.…”

“…Most of the QOL scores of conservative surgery participants were associated with both better global quality of life and better physical, role physical and social functioning [ 33 , 47 , 55 , 56 ]. Furthermore, our results, and the findings from previous studies [ 17 ; 52 ; 57 ] found poor QoL among survivors who received adjuvant therapy, suggest that the effects of adjuvant therapy persist for many years after the completion of chemotherapy [ 56 ]. Contrary to our finding, recent studies from Saudi Arabia [ 17 ], Poland [ 37 ] found that chemotherapy and radiotherapy were not a significant predictor of QoL in breast cancer participants.…”

Identifying associated factors in relation to health-related quality of life among postpartum women in Jimma town: A community-based cross-sectional study

“…The postpartum period is still an important time in the lives of both the mother and the infant [ 20 ]. Women's postpartum QoL should reflect their satisfaction and perception of their health anxieties within their cultural context [ 21 ].…”