Risk factors for poor self-rated health in women at 2 months and 1 year after childbirth

Abstract

Objective: To investigate risk factors for poor self-rated health (SRH) in primiparous and multiparous women 2 months and 1 year after childbirth in a nationwide Swedish sample.

Methods: Women were recruited at their first booking visit at 593 (97%) antenatal clinics in Sweden during 3 weeks evenly spread over 1 year (1999-2000). Data were collected by questionnaires in early pregnancy, 2 months and 1 year after childbirth, and from the Medical Birth Register. In total, 2424 women filled in all the questionnaires, including a global question on SRH. The representativity of the sample was assessed by comparison with the total Swedish birth cohort of 1999. Data were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.

Results: Physical problems, such as tiredness, musculoskeletal symptoms, and abdominal pain, and emotional problems, such as depressive symptoms, increased the risk of poor SRH in both primiparas and multiparas at one or both time points. Infant-related risk factors in both groups were negative experience of breastfeeding (2 months) and infant sleeping problems (1 year), and prematurity was a risk factor in primiparas at 2 months. Insufficient social support increased the risk in multiparas. In primiparas, outcome of labor, such as negative birth experience after operative delivery, was associated with poor SRH at 1 year and perineal pain at 2 months.

Conclusions: A new mother's SRH is associated with her life situation. Ongoing physical and emotional problems, lack of support, and infant factors seem more important than sociodemographic background. Mode of delivery and childbirth experience may have a longterm effect on SRH.