Quality of life of pregnant women: results of a group intervention targeted at mental and reproductive health

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate the perception of quality of life of pregnant women before and after a group intervention. This is a mixed-methods research, typified as sequential explanatory, developed in five Brazilian health units. The participants were women undergoing prenatal care who experienced groups of pregnant women, which promoted multidisciplinary activities. In the quantitative stage, an instrument on perception of quality of life, the WHOQOL-bref, was applied before and after the participation of pregnant women in the groups. Data were analysed using the IBM® SPSS® Statistics software. Descriptive statistical analysis and the Wilcoxon test were used. In the qualitative stage, in-depth open interviews were employed, and the empirical material was analysed through thematic content analysis, with the help of the Atlas.Ti software. Pregnant women indicated the best levels of satisfaction with their quality of life in the psychological and social relationships domains, with a percentage increase in scores in the stage after participating in the groups. The lowest levels of satisfaction were in the physical domain. In the environment domain, the quality of life was “fair”. It was also possible to demonstrate the benefits of the groups, with repercussions, above all, on mental and reproductive health. The research indicated positive effects of group interventions on the quality of life of pregnant women undergoing prenatal care in the units, emphasising the importance of health care incorporating the notion of social determinants of health to outline their actions in an intersectoral way.