Maternal, obstetric variables, perceived stress and health-related quality of life among pregnant women in Macao, China

Abstract

Objective: to identify associations between demographic, socio-economic and obstetric variables and health-related quality of life with perceived stress among Macao Chinese pregnant women.

Design: a cross-sectional, exploratory quantitative study.

Setting: an antenatal clinic of a university-affiliated regional public hospital in Macao.

Participants: a community-based sample (n = 1151) of pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Measurements: perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, and health-related quality of life was measured using the standard Short Form-12 Health Survey.

Findings: a multiple linear regression analysis revealed that pregnant women who were younger (β = 0.085, p = 0.002), single, divorced, separated or cohabiting (β = 0.067, p < 0.009), had a lower level of education (β = 0.079, p = 0.003), worked long hours (β = 0.102, p < 0.001) or who had an unplanned pregnancy (β = 0.063, p = 0.014) with late initiation of antenatal care (β = 0.066, p = 0.008) or poor physical (β = -0.501, p < 0.001) or mental (β = -0.115, p < 0.001) health-related quality of life had higher levels of perceived stress.

Conclusion: preliminary information was provided about Macao pregnant women who had higher perceived stress during pregnancy that was associated with the demographic, socio-economic, obstetric and health-related quality-of-life variables.

Implications for practice: the development of a checklist or structured questions for clinical situations is necessary, and programmes of stress management should be tailor made during pregnancy.