Citation

Hung HM, Chen CH. J. Nurs. Res. 2014; 22(1): 20-27.

Affiliation

1PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management 2PhD, RN, Professor, Institute of Allied Health Sciences and Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Taiwan Nurses Association, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/jnr.0000000000000015

PMID

24517896

Abstract

BACKGROUND: New mothers commonly report sleep deprivation and sleep disturbances during the first 3 postpartum months. A better understanding of factors related to postpartum sleep quality is necessary to develop interventions to improve sleep quality in postpartum women. PURPOSE: This study explored the impact of specific demographic and obstetric factors on the subjective sleep quality of postpartum women. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional, correlational study design. A convenience sample of 202 women in their fourth to sixth postpartum week was recruited from two hospitals in southern Taiwan. A demographic data form and the Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale were used to collect data. RESULTS: The mean Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale score of participants was 22.82 (SD = 8.16), indicating a mild level of sleep disturbance. We found that better sleep quality correlated positively with a satisfactory childbirth experience and correlated negatively with daily time spent on household work. Pain, discomfort, and fear were the main dimensions associated with unsatisfactory childbirth experiences. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Study results recommend that health professionals should improve current protocols to help women better confront and manage childbirth-related pain, discomfort, and fear. Evidence-based postnatal education for parents should highlight the positive relationship between reduced daily household workloads and sleep quality for new mothers.

Language: en