How maternal morbidities impact women's quality of life during pregnancy and postpartum in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia: A qualitative study

Martha Ali Abdulai, Research and Development Division, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Bono East Region, Ghana.
Priyanka Adhikary, Implementation Science Domain, Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India.
Sasha G. Baumann, Department of Global Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Muslima Ejaz, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Jenifer Oviya Priya, Community Health and Development, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India.
M Bridget Spelke, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
Victor Akelo, Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Kwaku Poku Asante, Research and Development Division, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Bono East Region, Ghana.
Bitanya M. Berhane, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Shruti Bisht, Implementation Science Domain, Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India.
Ellen Boamah-Kaali, Research and Development Division, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Bono East Region, Ghana.
Gabriela Diaz-Guzman, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Anne George Cherian, Community Health and Development, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India.
Zahra Hoodbhoy, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Margaret P. Kasaro, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
Amna Khan, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Janae Kuttamperoor, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Dorothy Lall, Community Health and Development, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India.
Gifta Priya Manohari, Community Health and Development, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India.
Sarmila Mazumder, Implementation Science Domain, Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India.
Karen McDonnell, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Mahya Mehrihajmir, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Wilbroad Mutale, School of Public Health, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Winnie K. Mwebia, Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Imran Nisar, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Kennedy Ochola, Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Peter Otieno, Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Gregory Ouma, Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Piya Patel, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Winifreda Phiri, University of North Carolina-Global Projects Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Neeraj Sharma, Implementation Science Domain, Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India.
Emily R. Smith, Department of Global Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Journal

PLOS global public health

Volume

5

Issue

9

DOI

10.1371/journal.pgph.0004229

Abstract

Maternal morbidities present a major burden to the health and well-being of childbearing women. However, their impacts on women's functional health are not well understood. This work aims to describe how maternal morbidities affect women's quality of life (QoL) in pregnancy and the postpartum period . This qualitative study involved 118 pregnant and 135 postpartum women at six study sites in Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Pakistan, and India. Data were collected between December 2023 and June 2024. Participants were selected via purposive sampling, with consideration of age, trimester, and time since delivery. A total of 23 focus group discussions with pregnant and late postpartum (≥6 months) participants and 48 in-depth interviews with early postpartum (≤6 weeks) participants were conducted using semi-structured guides. Data were analyzed using a collaborative, inductive, thematic approach. Four overarching themes were identified and were cross-cutting irrespective of continent or country : (1) physical and emotional challenges pose a barrier to daily activities; (2) lack of social support detracts from women's QoL; (3) receipt of social support mitigates adverse impacts of maternal morbidities on QoL; and (4) economic challenges exacerbate declines in women's QoL during pregnancy and postpartum. Physical and emotional morbidities related to childbearing severely limited women's ability to complete daily tasks and adversely impacted their perceived QoL. Social and financial support from the baby's father, family and/or in-laws, community members, and healthcare providers are important to mitigate the impacts of pregnancy and postpartum challenges on women's health and well-being.

Department

Global Health

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