Maternal health after childbirth: results of an Australian population based survey.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of maternal physical and emotional health problems six to seven months after birth.


METHODS
Statewide postal survey, incorporating the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, distributed to women six to seven months after childbirth.


METHODS
All women who gave birth in a two-week period in Victoria, Australia in September 1993 except those who had a stillbirth or known neonatal death.


RESULTS
The response rate was 62.5% (n = 1336). Respondents were representative of the total sample in terms of mode of delivery, parity and infant birthweight; young women, single women and women of nonEnglish speaking background were under-represented. One or more health problems in the first six postnatal months were reported by 94% of the women; a quarter had not talked to a health professional about their own health since the birth. Of women reporting health problems, 49% would have liked more help or advice. The most common health problems were tiredness (69%), backache (43.5%), sexual problems (26.3%), haemorrhoids (24.6%) and perineal pain (21%); 16.9% of women scored as depressed. Compared with spontaneous vaginal births, women having forceps or ventouse extraction had increased odds for perineal pain (OR 4.69 [95% CI 3.2-6.8]), sexual problems (OR 2.06 [95% CI 1.4-3.0]), and urinary incontinence (OR 1.81 [95% CI 1.1-2.9]). These differences remained significant after adjusting for infant birthweight, length of labour and degree of perineal trauma.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical and emotional health problems are common after childbirth, and are frequently not reported to health professionals despite the fact that many women would like more advice and assistance in dealing with them.
Brown
S
S
Centre for the Study of Mothers' and Children's Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Lumley
J
J
D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012650:Self Disclosure; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology