Transformation of quality of life in prenatal women with nausea and vomiting

Publication date: Available online 15 November 2018

Source: Women and Birth

Author(s): Mei-Chun Liu, Shih-Hsien Kuo, Fan-Hao Chou, Te-Fu Chan, Yi-Hsin Yang

Abstract

Problem

Nausea and vomiting not only cause physical discomfort in pregnant women but also impact their quality of life.

Background

Few longitudinal studies have been conducted to investigate QOL of women over the course of pregnancy.

Aim

To examine the transformation of health-related QOL and related factors among pregnant women with NV during three trimesters.

Methods

A longitudinal research design with convenience sampling was used. A structural questionnaire was used to repeatedly measure the data of 101 pregnant women with NV during the first, second, and third trimesters. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to analyze the collecting data.

Findings

The results showed significant differences in symptom distress, prenatal stress, and health-related QOL among the three trimesters in pregnant women with NV (p < 0.001). The scores of symptom distress, prenatal stress, and health-related QOL in the first trimester were significantly higher than those in the second and third trimesters (p < 0.001). The GEE indicated that the trimester of pregnancy, severity of NV, symptom distress, and prenatal stress were key factors for the transformation of health-related QOL of women with NV during pregnancy.

Discussion

The findings of this study are seminal in terms of understanding the relationships between symptom distress, prenatal stress and health-related QOL in pregnant women with NV over the course of a pregnancy.

Conclusion

This study can serve as a reference for designing interventions (i.e., professional support) for women in different pregnancy stages to improve their health-related QOL during pregnancy.

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