Long-term postpartum health problems in Turkish women: prevalence and associations with self-rated health.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the frequency of physical and emotional health problems associated with labor and their relationship with self-rated health measures.


METHODS
Four hundred women were enrolled. Data collection was accomplished through the completion of a form on sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, a questionnaire that measured the self-rated health level as well as physical health problems, and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale.


RESULTS
Most commonly reported health problems in the initial six-week period were fatigue (77.5%), sleep disturbance (76.0%), and dysuria (61.3%). At one-year postpartum, fatigue (33.9%), sleep disturbance (32.8%) and constipation (15.5%) were the most commonly reported complaints. Those who self-reported a "poor health" at six weeks and one year comprised of 40.0% and 19.8% of the participants, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies in other populations are warranted to better delineate the prevalence rates, which will provide useful data for developing policies aimed at improving postpartum care.
a Department of Midwifery, Balıkesir Health High School , Balıkesir University , Balıkesir , Turkey.
Sevde
S
Aksu
b Medical Faculty Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Trakya University , Edirne , Turkey.
Füsun G
FG
Varol
c Department of Obstetrical and Gynecological Nursing, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing , Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey.
Nevin
N
Hotun Sahin
D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
physical health problems; postpartum care; postpartum depression; postpartum period; self-perception of health status