SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE AND MATERNAL QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG POSTPARTUM WOMEN IN IBADAN METROPOLIS

Abstract

Maternal QoL (MQoL) has been reported as an all-encompassing term representing women’s physical, psychological, social and functional well-being in the postpartum period. Yet, there is a paucity of information on the influence of socio-demographic factors on maternal quality of life in postnatal women in Nigeria. The study examined the socio-demographic determinants of maternal quality of life among postpartum women in Ibadan Metropolis. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 522 postpartum women selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire named Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life Questionnaire (MAPP-QOL) and was analyzed through descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, independent t-test and one-way ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance. The majority of the respondents were in the age group of 25–34 years (67.2%), married (81.5%), attained secondary education (48.7%) and had a monthly income of less than ₦ 50,000 (52.8%). The overall maternal quality of life was moderate (Mean = 3.21 ± 0.68). The highest mean score was observed in the spouse relationship domain (3.61 ± 0.72), and the lowest in the financial domain (2.89 ± 0.81). Quality of life of postpartum women showed significant correlations with age (r = .21, p < .001), level of education (F[3,518] = 8.34, p < .001), marital status (t[520] = 5.67, p < .001), and household income (r = .34, p < .001). However, neither parity (r = .04, p = .38) nor religion (t(519) = 1.21, p = .23) were significantly related to maternal quality of life. Based on the results, the study advocates for the enhancement of socio-economic empowerment schemes, the facilitation of access to maternal health care services and policy action on broader social determinants of maternal well-being.