Comparing the quality of life and psychological state of multiparous and primiparous women in ante-and postnatal periods: A cohort study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the quality of life and psychological status of primiparous versus multiparous women during pregnancy and postpartum. A quality of life (QOL) questionnaire and a general health questionnaire (GHQ28) were filled out in the third trimester of pregnancy and 8 weeks postpartum by 273 pregnant women visiting health centers. In both periods the mean scores of QOL were higher in primiparous than the multiparous (P=.003, P=.026). During the pregnancy, the mean score of GHQ28 was lower in primiparous than multiparous (P=.005). Multiparity affects negatively women’s psychological state and quality of life during pregnancy.