Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life among Post-Partum Women Residing in a Resettlement Colony of East Delhi.

ABSTRACT

Abstract The postpartum period marks a transition phase in the life of the mother as well as the whole family. Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an important aspect for not only mother’s physical and psychological health. The study was conducted in a resettlement colony, Kalyanpuri located in Delhi, India with a sample size of 330 post-partum women and the data was collected in the 6th week of post-partum period using the MOS SF-36 (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Health Survey) for health related quality of life. Among the study subjects, 34.2% had the birth order two and they showed the best mean HRQoL score. The mean score was low for the study subjects with complications in the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum period (52.9 ± 18.4) as well as in foetal complications where the intrapartum period complications had the worst mean HRQoL score. Healthcare workers of the study area visited 91.5% of the subjects during the post-partum period and had better HRQoL mean score. Also, 22.4% subjects had history of mistreatment and abuse with decline in the mean HRQoL scores. Across the study subjects, 54.4% had financial hardships faced by their family members which had poor HRQoL mean scores. This study uncovered various horizons of health related quality of life for assessment of women in the post-partum period which emphasised the modifications and considerations to include quality as one of the determinant and indicator of health.