The factors affecting the quality of life among women during the postpartum period

Abstract

Objective: As healthcare has become increasingly patient-centered, outcomes such as disease-specific quality of life (QoL) have become increasingly important. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the QoL of postpartum women and which factors make a difference and affect the QoL. Patients and Methods: A total of 175 postpartum mothers participated in this study. The Euro QoL 5 Dimension 5 Level (EQ 5D-5L) scale was used to measure the health-related QoL of postpartum women. Results: The QoL of women differed in age, delivery type, venous thromboembolism risk factors, parity, gravida, number of live births, and use of anticoagulant medication. According to multiple regression analyses, the “age” variable had a significant effect on the QoL. However, the variables of education, social security, employment status, and monthly income of the family were not significant determinants of QoL. Also, the “number of live births” variable did not significantly affect the QoL, other obstetric and clinical variables had a significant effect on the QoL. The gravida increased the QoL but the number of miscarriages and the venous thromboembolism risk score decreased the QoL. Conclusions: This study shows that, the QoL of women varies according to obstetric, socio-demographic, and clinical factors, and “age, gravida, the number of abortions and the venous thromboembolism risk score” variables have a significant effect on the QoL.