Background: A low quality of life during pregnancy and lactation can elevate the risk of psychological complications, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and developmental issues in children. Gaining insight into the factors that affect the quality of life for pregnant and lactating women is essential for healthcare providers to create effective interventions.
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the quality of life among pregnant and lactating women and to identify the factors influencing it, including sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric factors, and levels of psychological distress.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted online between February and March 2022, employing a chain referral sampling method to gather participants. A total of 409 women from Java (Indonesia) participated, comprising 249 pregnant women and 160 lactating women. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale was employed to assess psychological distress, while the 36-item Short Form Health Survey measured quality of life. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression.
Results: The mean quality of life scores did not show a significant difference between the two groups (pregnant: 67.64±13.78; lactating: 67.20±15.38; P=0.768), indicating a generally good quality of life for both. Multiple linear regression revealed that for pregnant women, significant factors affecting quality of life included occupation (P<0.05), depression (P<0.01), and anxiety (P<0.01). For lactating women, influential factors included ethnicity (P<0.05), duration of breastfeeding (P<0.05), as well as depression (P<0.01), anxiety (P<0.01), and stress (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Both pregnant and lactating women reported a good quality of life; however, psychological distress, sociodemographic characteristics, and obstetric factors significantly influenced their overall well-being. It is crucial to address psychological distress through early screening and ongoing, comprehensive interventions.