Disorders Affecting Quality of Life During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study

Pregnancy is a special condition which results in unique physiological responses which is more than any other physiological event and it increase stress in women's body. Information about the changes experienced by pregnant women in physical, psychological, and social areas is limited, indicating that the quality of life and changeable areas in pregnant women require more attention.

This study was aimed to identify the disorders affecting the quality of life during pregnancy.

A qualitative study was performed with the conventional content analysis approach. Participants included 16 pregnant women who were recruited using purposive sampling and performed with maximum variety. The semi-structured in depth interview started face to face with the general question and was followed with specific questions. The interviews were conducted in Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan, Iran. Data analysis and data collection were conducted concurrently and the interviews were continued until achieving data saturation.

Five main categories emerged in this study including "psychological disorders of pregnancy", "disorders of activities", "body-image disorder", "disorders in sexual intercourse" and "physical disorders" that were analyzed revolves common around of disorders affecting quality of life.

Pregnancy can have undesirable effects on various aspects of women's lives in their point of view and lead to a decreased life quality. Therefore, it is essential in prenatal care. In addition to addressing the physical aspects of maternal health, other aspects are also evaluated, and in case of any disorder, the necessary consultation should be done.