Prevention of striae gravidarum and quality of life among pregnant Japanese women

Abstract

Background: striae gravidarum affects the quality of life (QOL) of Japanese pregnant women. Many pregnant women use skin moisturisers to prevent striae gravidarum. However, the relationship between these preventive steps and QOL remains unclear.

Objective: to evaluate the moisturising effect and QOL of pregnant women in an urban prefecture in central Japan with preventive steps against striae gravidarum.

Design and method: cross-sectional study. Pregnant women at 36 weeks of gestation were recruited at antenatal examinations.

Setting: four private clinics in an urban prefecture in central Japan.

Participants: 156 pregnant women consisting of 83 primiparae and 73 multiparae were analysed.

Measurements: a self-administered questionnaire, the severity of striae gravidarum assessed by Davey's score and the dermatology-specific QOL were assessed by Skindex29. The water content in the stratum corneum of each woman's abdomen was measured with a Moisture checker. The Ethical Committee of Osaka University Medical School approved the study.

Findings: the prevalence of striae gravidarum was 37.8% and 121 (77.6%), including 76 (91.6%) primiparae and 45 (61.6%) multiparae, said they used a cream and/or lotion in an attempt to prevent striae gravidarum. The water content in the stratum corneum of the abdominal wall increased significantly after using cream and/or lotion (p=0.001). The severity and presence of striae gravidarum were not correlated with the preventive steps or water content in the stratum corneum of the abdominal wall (p=0.330 and p=0.835). Pregnant women who took the preventive steps showed higher scores for emotion on Skindex29 than those who did not (p=0.002). Although pregnant women with striae gravidarum showed a lower QOL for emotion than those without striae gravidarum (p=0.045), those who took the preventive steps maintained a similar level of QOL for emotion regardless of striae gravidarum. There have been few trials evaluating the QOL of pregnant women with striae gravidarum so a comparison of results among studies and determination of an appropriate sample size could not be conducted.

Key conclusions and implications for practice: preventive steps increase the amount of water content in the stratum corneum but this does not prevent striae gravidarum. Although pregnant women with striae gravidarum showed a lower QOL for emotion, the preventive steps were correlated with the level of QOL for emotion in pregnant women with striae gravidarum. Midwives need to absorb such information and recommend moisturising skin care for pregnant women.

Keywords: Japanese pregnant women; Preventive steps; Quality of life; Striae gravidarum.