Postpartum quality of life and associated factors: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose: To determine factors associated with postpartum quality of life (QOL).

Methods: An analytic cross-sectional design was used in this study, and data was collected from December 2019 to March 2020. Participants were 252 postpartum women visiting eight governmental primary healthcare centers in Madinah city, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Sleep problems were assessed using an item from the Prime-MD Patient Health Questionnaire.

Results: Maternal age between 26 and 35 years had a significant independent association with the physical health domain of QOL (p < .01). Postpartum depression was significantly associated with lower QOL in all dimensions (p < .01). In addition, sleep problems were associated with three out of the four QOL domains (p < .05). The significant other subscale of the MSPSS was significantly associated with higher QOL scores in all dimensions (p < .01); additionally, family and friends subscales of the MSPSS were significantly associated with the social domain of QOL (p < .01).

Conclusions: Maternal QOL, during the postpartum period, showed negative associations with age, postpartum depression, and sleep disturbances. Ultimately, social support appeared to be an essential factor in mothers' ability to cope with the physical and psychological problems experienced during this period.

Keywords: Postpartum depression; Quality of life; Saudi Arabia; Social support.