Quality of Life of Women after Giving Birth: Associated Factors Related with the Birth Process

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers quality of life a fundamental indicator. The effect of birth on women’s long-term quality of life (QoL) has barely been studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors related with the pregnancy, delivery and puerperium, and assess women’s QoL after giving birth. A cross-sectional study with Spanish puerperal women was carried out; it collected data on socio-demographic variables, obstetric variables, newborn data, and several quality of life parameters. An ad hoc online questionnaire, including SF-36 (validated instrument to measure QoL), was used. Crude mean differences (MD) and adjusted mean differences (aMD) were estimated by multiple linear regression. A total of 2990 women participated whose overall QoL lowered with time until three years postpartum (p = 0.045). Caesarean section (aMD = −3.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): −5.07, −2.15), mother admitted to ICU (aMD = −4.81, 95% CI: −9.56, −2.68), newborn hospitalized (aMD = −2.10, 95% CI: −4.31, −0.13) or third/fourth degree perineal tears (aMD = −6.87 95%CI: −9.93, −3.82) were detected as risk factors that affect negatively and significantly on postpartum QoL scores. Women’s postpartum QoL worsens with time. Some determining factors negatively influence postpartum QoL: Caesarean section, a mother´s admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) or a premature newborn.