Ali 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.
Implementation Science Domain, Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025 Sep 11;5(9):e0004229. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004229. eCollection 2025.
Maternal morbidities present a major burden to the health and well-being of childbearing women. However, their impacts on women's functional health are not well understood. This work aims to describe how maternal morbidities affect women's quality of life (QoL) in pregnancy and the postpartum period . This qualitative study involved 118 pregnant and 135 postpartum women at six study sites in Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Pakistan, and India. Data were collected between December 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 pregnant and late postpartum (≥6 months) participants and 48 in-depth interviews with early postpartum (≤6 weeks) participants were conducted using semi-structured guides. Data were analyzed using a collaborative, inductive, thematic approach. Four overarching themes were identified and were cross-cutting irrespective of continent or country : (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 maternal morbidities on QoL; and (4) economic challenges exacerbate declines in women's QoL during pregnancy and postpartum. Physical and emotional morbidities related to childbearing severely 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，它们对妇女功能健康的影响尚未得到充分了解。这项研究旨在描述孕产妇发病如何影响妇女在孕期和产后的生活质量（QoL）。这项定性研究涉及肯尼亚、加纳、赞比亚、巴基斯坦和印度六个研究地点的118名孕妇和135名产后妇女。数据收集于2023年12月至2024年6月之间。参与者通过目的抽样选取，考虑了年龄、孕期和分娩后的时间。使用半结构化指南，对孕妇和产后晚期（≥6个月）参与者进行了23次焦点小组讨论，对产后早期（≤6周）参与者进行了48次深入访谈。采用协作式归纳主题分析法对数据进行分析。确定了四个总体主题，这些主题不受大陆或国家的限制，具有贯穿性：（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产妇发病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。与生育相关的身体和情感疾病严重限制了妇女完成日常任务的能力，并对她们的生活质量产生了不利影响。来自婴儿父亲、家人和/或姻亲、社区成员以及医疗保健提供者的社会和经济支持对于减轻怀孕和产后挑战对妇女健康和福祉的影响非常重要。
