ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN: A HOSPITAL-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy involves significant physical, psychological, and social changes that can affect maternal quality of life. This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) among pregnant women in a hospital setting and identify its key determinants.

Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 pregnant women at a tertiary care hospital, SMCH, over two months, from March to April 2024, to assess their quality of life. A simple random sampling method was used to select the study participants. Quality of life was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire, and the EQ-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) was employed to measure the participant's self-rated health on a vertical visual analogue scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 14, utilizing descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression to identify key demographic and clinical factors influencing quality of life, with a p-value set at ≤0.05.

Results: The results indicate that both age and high-risk pregnancy significantly negatively impact the quality of life among pregnant women. Specifically, each additional year of age is associated with a decrease of 0.08 units in the EQ-5D-5L utility score (β = -0.08, 95% CI: -0.13 to -0.04, p < 0.001) and a decrease of 6.24 units in the EQ-VAS score (β = -6.24, 95% CI: -9.40 to -3.09, p < 0.001). Additionally, women with high-risk pregnancies had EQ-VAS scores 5.96 units lower than those with normal pregnancies (β = -5.96, 95% CI: -9.54 to -2.37, p = 0.001), highlighting the detrimental effect of high-risk pregnancies on quality of life.

Conclusion: older maternal age and high-risk pregnancies significantly reduce the quality of life among pregnant women, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to enhance their well-being and pregnancy outcomes. Future research employing longitudinal approaches could provide deeper insights into the dynamic nature of QoL during pregnancy.