Abdulai Martha, Adhikary Priyanka, Baumann Sasha G, Ejaz Muslima, Priya Jenifer Oviya, Spelke M Bridget, Akelo Victor, Asante Kwaku Poku, Berhane Bitanya M, Bisht Shruti, Boamah-Kaali Ellen, Diaz-Guzman Gabriela, Cherian Anne George, Hoodbhoy Zahra, Kasaro Margaret P, Khan Amna, Kuttamperoor Janae, Lall Dorothy, Manohari Gifta Priya, Mazumder Sarmila, McDonnell Karen, Mehrihajmir Mahya, Mutale Wilbroad, Mwebia Winnie K, Nisar Imran, Ochola Kennedy, Otieno Peter, Ouma Gregory, Patel Piya, Phiri Winifreda, Sharma Neeraj, Smith Emily R, Tawiah Charlotte, Vallone Natalie J, Sylvetsky Allison C
Research and Development Division, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Bono East Region, Ghana.
Centre for Health Research and Development, Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India.
medRxiv. 2025 Jan 15:2025.01.14.25320557. doi: 10.1101/2025.01.14.25320557.
Maternal morbidities present a major burden to the health and well-being of childbearing women. However, their impacts on women's quality of life (QoL) are not well understood. This work aims to describe the extent to which the morbidities women experience during pregnancy and postpartum affect their QoL and identify any protective or risk factors.
This qualitative study included pregnant and postpartum women in Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Pakistan, and India. Data were collected between November 2023 and June 2024. Participants were selected via purposive sampling, with consideration of age, trimester, and time since delivery. A total of 23 focus group discussions with 118 pregnant and 88 late (≥6 months) postpartum participants and 48 in-depth interviews with early (≤6 weeks) postpartum participants were conducted using semi-structured guides developed by the research team. Data was analyzed using a collaborative inductive thematic approach.
Four overarching themes were identified across pregnancy and the postpartum period: (1) physical and emotional challenges pose a barrier to daily activities; (2) lack of social support detracts from women's QoL; (3) receipt of social support mitigates adverse impacts of pregnancy and postpartum challenges on QoL; and (4) economic challenges exacerbate declines in women's QoL during pregnancy and postpartum.
Bodily discomfort and fatigue were near-universal experiences. Physical and emotional morbidities related to childbearing limited women's ability to complete daily tasks and adversely impacted their perceived QoL. Social and financial support from the baby's father, family and/or in-laws, community members, and healthcare providers are important to mitigate the impacts of pregnancy and postpartum challenges on women's health and well-being.
孕产妇发病给育龄妇女的健康和福祉带来了重大负担。然而，它们对妇女生活质量（QoL）的影响尚未得到充分了解。这项工作旨在描述妇女在孕期和产后所经历的发病情况对其生活质量的影响程度，并确定任何保护因素或风险因素。
这项定性研究纳入了肯尼亚、加纳、赞比亚、巴基斯坦和印度的孕妇和产后妇女。数据收集于2023年11月至2024年6月期间。通过目的抽样选择参与者，考虑年龄、孕期和分娩后的时间。使用研究团队制定的半结构化指南，对118名孕妇和88名晚期（≥6个月）产后参与者进行了23次焦点小组讨论，并对48名早期（≤6周）产后参与者进行了深入访谈。采用协作归纳主题分析法对数据进行分析。
在孕期和产后期间确定了四个总体主题：（1）身体和情感挑战对日常活动构成障碍；（2）缺乏社会支持会降低妇女的生活质量；（3）获得社会支持可减轻孕期和产后挑战对生活质量的不利影响；（4）经济挑战加剧了妇女在孕期和产后生活质量的下降。
身体不适和疲劳几乎是普遍存在的经历。与生育相关的身体和情感疾病限制了妇女完成日常任务的能力，并对她们感知到的生活质量产生了不利影响。婴儿父亲、家人和/或姻亲、社区成员以及医疗保健提供者提供的社会和经济支持对于减轻孕期和产后挑战对妇女健康和福祉的影响非常重要。
