Background and objectives: This study aimed to explore the associations of postpartum dietary quality and behavioral practices with maternal health in Guangzhou China.
Methods and study design: We conducted a cross-sectional study among puerperal women in urban and suburban areas in Guangzhou, China (n=2013). Data for postpartum dietary and behavioral practices and health conditions were collected by a standardized questionnaire. Dietary balance index (DBI) was calculated to assess an individual's dietary quality. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors related to women's health.
Results: 75.5% of women reported at least one postpartum disease, and the most common problems were prolonged duration of lochia (70.0%) and backache (43.0%), followed by constipation (23.6%), insufficient milk secretion (19.2%), breast swelling (18.5%) and hemorrhoids (13.8%). Average postpartum weight retention was 3.5 kg. Logistic regression analysis revealed that 12-18 h/d of bed rest time, breastfeeding, doing postpartum exercise, basking, getting out of bed within 2 days after delivery, higher intake of fish and shrimp, fruits, vegetable, milk were protective factors for at least one out of these health problems or weight retention (p<0.05). Bed rest time for more than 18 h/d or less than 12 h/d, ginger vinegar intake, doing housework, cesarean section, and excessive and inadequate intake of cereals had an adverse association (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Some features of a traditional Chinese postpartum diet and behaviour are related to maternal morbidity during the puerperium. Further studies are needed to assess whether postpartum diet and behavioral intervention improve maternal health during the postpartum period.