Comparative Analysis of Life Quality in Mothers after Cesarean Section and Normal Vaginal Delivery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Statistics indicate that the rate of cesarean section increased in recent years. As complications of hospitalizations and surgery would affect the life quality, the current study was carried out to evaluate the life quality of mothers after normal vaginal delivery (NVD) and cesareane. METHODS: This is an anterograde analytic study of cohort type. To fulfill the study, a specialized questionnaire was designed, and its validity and reliability was approved. The designed questionnaire accompanied with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Short-Form-36 (SF-36) was filled by 50 women underwent NVD and 50 underwent cesarean, 6 to 8 and 12 to 14 weeks, postpartum. Finally, the data was analyzed using chi square, independent t, paired t, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: Comparing the scores of the two groups 6-8 and 12-14 weeks postpartum indicated that both groups got higher marks in all fields in second step of the study. Anyhow, the improvement of NVD group was higher which was significant in some areas. Comparing the EPDS scores of the groups showed that the cesarean group was more prone to depressive disorders. The difference was significant 6-8 weeks postpartum. Also, the results of SF-36 questionnaire indicate that quality of life in NVD group was better in some aspects and similar with the cesarean group in other aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrated that women undergoing NVD experience better quality of life post partum, comparing those undergoing cesarean. So, to terminate the pregnancy, the NVD is better to be considered as the first choice. KEY WORDS: Quality of life, postpartum, normal vaginal delivery, cesarea