title: Age-specific determinants of post-partum fatigue in primiparous women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Post-partum fatigue is a serious concern for mothers worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify age-specific determinants of self-perceived fatigue after childbirth among Japanese primiparous women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted in Japan. The degree of fatigue was assessed using the Postnatal Accumulated Fatigue Scale during the hospital stay after childbirth. Associated factors were stratified into two age groups (<35 or ≥35 years old); data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the younger group, significant determinants of post-partum fatigue included: anticipated difficulties in child-rearing after discharge; perception of inadequate sleep conditions; dissatisfaction with childbirth; shorter sleep and meal times; longer duration between feeding and infant bedtime; unemployment; and having hyperemesis gravidarum. In the older group, significant determinants of post-partum fatigue included: anticipated difficulties in child-rearing after discharge; perception of inadequate sleep conditions; shorter meal times; formula feeding; and dissatisfaction with childbirth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primiparous mothers who anticipated new life with their infants to be difficult and who had an irregular lifestyle tended to report higher levels of fatigue during the post-partum hospital stay. Nurses and midwives should assess maternal sleep and eating conditions, providing support to ensure adequate maternal rest. Special efforts should be made to reduce anxiety about new life with infants among younger primiparous women who had experienced hyperemesis gravidarum.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Survivorship Research, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Innovation Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Innovation Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakajo
authors.affiliation: Former Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Innovation Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Innovation Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maehara
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Innovation Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Innovation Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Harumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Innovation Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Innovation Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makaya
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamakoshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Japan; determinants; hospitalization after childbirth; post-partum fatigue; primiparous mothers