Health-related quality of life: The neglected facet of women's health in India

Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional concept and an essential health component that usually includes both positive and negative aspects of life. The measure of health-related QoL (HRQOL) enables health agencies and social partners to address areas of public health importance and formulate policies which eventually demonstrate the impact of health on QoL. Women form an important pillar of society as they are the primary caretaker of children and elders in every country of the world and therefore, the QoL of women determines the health of the next generation and future public health challenges for families, communities, and the health-care system. Providing health services at par with quality is the need of the hour and a very important health goal considering women's health. Poor delivery of clinical care, failure to meet the professional standards of patient care by health-care providers, mistreatment and abuse by health-care professionals, and inequitable delivery of care are some of the key issues in the delivery of quality maternal health-care services in India and therefore primary health-care professionals should be made familiar with the concept of the HRQoL in the community they are serving. Indian health-care systems need to address to the inequalities and taking off the consumer-centric, market approach of privately run corporate health facilities along with setting up of accountability of all the stakeholders to provide quality care, especially in the government-run facilities and creating a promising environment in health care for women focusing on pregnant and postpartum mothers.

Does the Mode of Delivery Affect the Health-Related Quality of Life? A Comparative Analysis

Background: Health?related quality of life (HRQoL) of postpartum mothers is a multidimensional concept and is relatively neglected in both researches and in practice as most postpartum researches have focused on the physical complications. In line with the global trends, India has witnessed a sharp rise in cesarean section (CS) deliveries and has become a global concern for the health of the mother as well as her quality of life. Objectives: This study was conducted to analyze and compare the HRQoL after normal vaginal delivery and CS in the postpartum women. Methods: It was a community-based cross-sectional study and a predesigned, pretested interview schedule was used in the form of a questionnaire including the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Health Survey for HRQoL. The study was conducted in a resettlement colony, Kalyanpuri located in Delhi, India with a total population of 25,754 with 4596 eligible couples in 4302 households from November 2018 to March 2020. The study participants comprised of a sample size of 330 post?partum women and the data were collected in the 6th week of post-partum period. Results: In our study, there were statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences with mode of delivery as one of the predictors of HRQoL of postpartum mothers. The study subjects with vaginal delivery had higher mean HRQoL score under all the domains. Conclusion: In CS, reduced physical activity, body pain not only affected the mental health domain score but also significantly impacted the emotional domain. Promoting the use of family planning services is also significant in improving maternal health and should be made a provision of quality of care and strengthening of quality improvement and sustainable quality assurance mechanisms are major problem-solving steps in improving access to healthcare.

Gender of the baby and its impact on the health-related quality of life of postpartum women

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multidimensional concept and is relatively neglected in both research and practice. Gender equality is a crucial measure of human rights for millions of women and girls around the world. Most postpartum researches have focused on physical complications. This study was conducted to analyze the impact of gender of the baby on the HRQoL of postpartum women at 6 weeks. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in a resettlement colony, Kalyanpuri, located in Delhi, India, with a sample size of 330 postpartum women. The data were collected in the 6th week of postpartum period using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Health Survey for HRQoL. Results: The findings showed that the birth of a male baby led to a significantly (P < 0.05) better mean HRQoL score than the birth of a female baby. The mean scores of general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health domains were significantly less in the case of a female newborn child. Conclusion: The male dominance in the Indian society which leads to financial supremacy and coercion for continuation of family lineage was an important predictor of lower HRQoL of the women in the postpartum period. This demonstrates the need for risk factor for gender equity to and achieve universal health coverage.