ABSTRACT The birth of a new baby is an important event in the life of a woman that requires some physical and emotional adjustments. This study investigated the differences in health-related quality of life of housewives and career women after normal vaginal delivery in the light of their mother-worker dyad and the associated socio-demographic factors. Three objectives and five hypotheses were raised to guide the study. Response shift theory was used to appraise the quality of life of the mothers as they adapt to changes in their roles post delivery. Longitudinal, prospective descriptive design was used for the study. A sample of 234 newly delivered mothers was drawn from an estimated population of 363 that used six selected hospitals in Enugu through proportionate stratified and convenience sampling techniques. Data were collected by administration of a modified form of the short-form 36 version 2 (SF-36v2TM) health-related quality of life instrument - standardized Iranian version generic 36-item health status profile – and a researcher-developed five-item questionnaire to post partal at 6, 12 and 18 weeks post delivery. Data collection was through personal contacts at the hospital initially, and visits to home/workplace or cell-phone interview at subsequent times. Data were analysed descriptively using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviations. T-test was used for group comparison of dimensions of HrQoL of the women while two-way ANOVA was used to establish statistical significant difference in the scores. Both housewives and career women had better HrQoL during their maternity period – 6 and 12 weeks post partum than at 18 weeks. At 18 weeks housewives had better HrQoL than career women; career women reported bodily pains and problems with role physical and social functioning more frequently than housewives. There were significant differences in HrQoL scores of housewives and career women at 18 weeks post partum based on their age, educational status, family income, perceived social support and stress-related job category. The current four months leave maternity should be extended to six months full pay maternity leave so that mothers will have more time to adjust to their increased responsibilities. Paternity leave should be granted to fathers, on request, so that they will have time at home to assist their spouse as may be necessary. Similar studies should be conducted among housewives and career women living in rural areas.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Title page i
Approval ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of contents vi
List of tables ix
List of figures x
Abstract xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the study 1
Statement of the problem 5
Purpose of the study 6
Objectives of the study 6
Research Hypothesis 7
Significance of the study 7
Scope of the study 8
Operational definition of terms 9
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Conceptual review: The concept of health-related quality of life 10
How health-related quality of life is measured 12
Physiological changes in post-natal period 13
Housewives and their post-natal health-related quality of life 13
Career women and their post-natal health-related quality of life 14
Comparative post-natal quality of life studies 15
Theoretical review: The Response Shift Theory 18
Empirical review 20
Socio-economic status and health-related quality of life 20
Educational status and health-related quality of life 22
Age and health-related quality of life 23
6
Social support and health-related quality of life 23
Summary of reviewed literature 24
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS
Research design 26
Area of study 26
Population of the study 27
Sample 27
Sampling technique 28
Instrument for data collection 30
Validity of instrument 31
Reliability of instrument 32
Ethical considerations 32
Procedure for data collection 33
Method of data analysis 34
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF RESULTS 35
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
Discussion of findings
HrQoL of housewives and career women at 6, 12 and
18 weeks post partum 46
HrQoL of housewives and career women at 18 weeks
post partum and age 47
HrQoL of housewives and career women at 18 weeks
post partum and educational level 48
HrQoL of housewives and career women at 18 weeks
post partum and family income 49
HrQoL of housewives and career women at 18 weeks
post partum and perceived quality of social support 50
HrQoL of housewives and career women at 18 weeks
post partum and perceived stress-related job category 51
Implications of the findings 52
Limitations of the study 53
U., A (2022). Health-Related Quality of Life of Housewives and Career Women with Normal Vaginal Delivery in Enugu, Nigeria. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/health-related-quality-of-life-of-housewives-and-career-women-with-normal-vaginal-delivery-in-enugu-nigeria
U., ANTHONIA "Health-Related Quality of Life of Housewives and Career Women with Normal Vaginal Delivery in Enugu, Nigeria" Afribary. Afribary, 13 Oct. 2022, https://afribary.com/works/health-related-quality-of-life-of-housewives-and-career-women-with-normal-vaginal-delivery-in-enugu-nigeria. Accessed 02 Nov. 2024.
U., ANTHONIA . "Health-Related Quality of Life of Housewives and Career Women with Normal Vaginal Delivery in Enugu, Nigeria". Afribary, Afribary, 13 Oct. 2022. Web. 02 Nov. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/health-related-quality-of-life-of-housewives-and-career-women-with-normal-vaginal-delivery-in-enugu-nigeria >.
U., ANTHONIA . "Health-Related Quality of Life of Housewives and Career Women with Normal Vaginal Delivery in Enugu, Nigeria" Afribary (2022). Accessed November 02, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/health-related-quality-of-life-of-housewives-and-career-women-with-normal-vaginal-delivery-in-enugu-nigeria