Health-related quality of life measured by SF-36 among postdelivery mothers attending maternal and child health clinic in Eastern Nepal: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: Assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its associated factors is essential for providing adequate healthcare and developing necessary interventions in women postdelivery. This study intended to find out the HRQoL score and related factors among women postdelivery in Nepal. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study using nonprobability sampling conducted at a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Clinic in Nepal. The study participants were 129 women postdelivery to 12 months who visited the MCH Clinic from 2 September 2018 to 28 September 2018. Outcome measures were sociodemographic, clinical indicators, obstetric indicators, and their relation with the overall HRQoL score of postdelivery mothers using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) Version 1. Results: Of 129 respondents, 68.22% were in the 21–30 age group, 36.43% were upper caste, 88.37% were Hindu, 87.60% were literate, 81.39% were homemakers, 53.49% with income less than 12 months, 88.37% had family support, and 50.39% with vaginal deliveries. HRQoL was significantly more in employed women (P=0.037), those with family support (P=0.003), and those who had a cesarean section (P=0.02) and wanted pregnancy (P=0.040). Conclusion: HRQoL in women postdelivery can be influenced by employment status, family support, type of delivery, and desirability of pregnancy.