Maternal, obstetric variables, perceived stress and health-related quality of life among pregnant women in Macao, China.
OBJECTIVE
to identify associations between demographic, socio-economic and obstetric variables and health-related quality of life with perceived stress among Macao Chinese pregnant women.


METHODS
a cross-sectional, exploratory quantitative study.


METHODS
an antenatal clinic of a university-affiliated regional public hospital in Macao.


METHODS
a community-based sample (n = 1151) of pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy.


METHODS
perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, and health-related quality of life was measured using the standard Short Form-12 Health Survey.


RESULTS
a multiple linear regression analysis revealed that pregnant women who were younger (β = 0.085, p = 0.002), single, divorced, separated or cohabiting (β = 0.067, p < 0.009), had a lower level of education (β = 0.079, p = 0.003), worked long hours (β = 0.102, p < 0.001) or who had an unplanned pregnancy (β = 0.063, p = 0.014) with late initiation of antenatal care (β = 0.066, p = 0.008) or poor physical (β = -0.501, p < 0.001) or mental (β = -0.115, p < 0.001) health-related quality of life had higher levels of perceived stress.


CONCLUSIONS
preliminary information was provided about Macao pregnant women who had higher perceived stress during pregnancy that was associated with the demographic, socio-economic, obstetric and health-related quality-of-life variables.


CONCLUSIONS
the development of a checklist or structured questions for clinical situations is necessary, and programmes of stress management should be tailor made during pregnancy.
Lau
Ying
Y
School of Health Sciences, Macao Polytechnic Institute, 5/F Centro Hotline Building, No. 335-341, Alameda Dr. Carlos D' Assumpcao, Macao Special Administrative Region, China. ylau@ipm.edu.mo
Yin
Lei
L
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008393:Marriage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult