title: Health related quality of life of women at the sixth week and sixth month postpartum by mode of birth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-related quality of life of women in the postpartum period may depend on the mode of birth. However, previous findings are contradictory.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore health-related quality of life of women at the sixth week and sixth month postpartum by mode of birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a longitudinal prospective study in Spain that included 546 healthy primiparae aged 18 to 45 years who gave birth to a healthy newborn. At the sixth week and sixth month postpartum, we analysed sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and compared health-related quality of life (measured using the SF-36) by mode of birth (normal vaginal, forceps, vacuum-extraction, elective caesarean section, emergency caesarean section). In addition, we analysed the change in health-related quality of life between the two time points for each mode of birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We did not find differences in health-related quality of life by mode of birth at the sixth week or sixth month postpartum. At the sixth week postpartum, regardless of the mode of birth, women with postpartum urinary incontinence reported lower health-related quality of life. Between the sixth week and sixth month postpartum, health-related quality of life improved for all modes of birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While mode of birth is not directly associated with health-related quality of life, it does have an indirect relationship in the short term. Women who reported the lowest health-related quality of life were those with postpartum urinary incontinence. Most women with postpartum urinary incontinence were in the forceps group.
authors.affiliation: West Health District, Primary Care Center Francia, Fuenlabrada, Madrid Health Service, Spain. Electronic address: josematias.trivino@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: José-Matías
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Triviño-Juárez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Castilla-La Mancha University, Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Dulce
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romero-Ayuso
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine Service, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Gregorio Marañon Health Research Institute (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nieto-Pereda
authors.affiliation: National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health and REDISSEC, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria-João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Forjaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Castilla-La Mancha University, Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan-José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Criado-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Southeast Health District, Madrid Health Service, Spain.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arruti-Sevilla
authors.affiliation: Southeast Health District, Madrid Health Service, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Avilés-Gamez
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Gregorio Marañon Health Research Institute (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliver-Barrecheguren
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Gregorio Marañon Health Research Institute (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mellizo-Díaz
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Gregorio Marañon Health Research Institute (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soto-Lucía
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine Service, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Gregorio Marañon Health Research Institute (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plá-Mestre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009772:Obstetrical Forceps / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010298:Parity; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Health related quality of life; Longitudinal study; Mode of birth; SF-36; Urinary incontinence