Health related quality of life during pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction: Numerous parameters can affect the quality of life (QL) during pregnancy. Goal: The aim of the study was to evaluate QL in healthy pregnant women. Methods: Study involved every sixth woman who gave birth in Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, during the year 2010. They filled in the SF-36 questionnaire, Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Pregnancy Symptom Scale (PSS), Multidimensional Personal Support Scale (MSPSS) and Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). Results: There were 604 women included in the study. Mean scores of the scales were: total SF-36-70.7, BDI-3.8, FSS-3.5, PSS-2.1, MSPSS- 70.3, AIS-14.0. The values of total QL, PSS and MSPSS scores were highly significantly correlated with all other examined scale scores. BDI and FSS were not correlated only with MSPSS. Significant models of correlation were obtained for SF-36 scores: total QL (R=0.597; adjR2=0.351; F=66.281; p=0.000). Conclusion: The QL during pregnancy was good. Examined women did not have significant levels of depression, fatigue and symptoms during pregnancy. Women had good social support and tolerated pregnancy well. However, depression, fatigue, pregnancy tolerance and social support can all significantly affect the quality of life during pregnancy. Most attention should be directed to pregnancy-related depression and fatigue.