Jennifer J Doering1, Aniko Szabo, Deepika Goyal, Elizabeth Babler. 1. Jennifer J. Doering is an Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, College of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI. The author can be reached via e-mail at doering@uwm.edu Aniko Szabo is an Associate Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, Institute for Health and Society, Division of Biostatistics, Milwaukee, WI. Deepika Goyal is a Professor, San Jose State University, The Valley Foundation School of Nursing, San Jose, CA. Elizabeth Babler is Regional Medical Liaison, Sanofi, Franklin, WI. Dr. Babler was a postdoctoral fellow at the UW-Milwaukee during her role in this study.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe and explore patterns of postpartum sleep, fatigue, and depressive symptoms in low-income urban women. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this descriptive, exploratory, nonexperimental study, participants were recruited from an inpatient postpartum unit. Subjective measures were completed by 132 participants across five time points. Objective sleep/wake patterns were measured by 72-hour wrist actigraphy at 4 and 8 weeks. Mean sample age was 25 years, high school educated with 3.1 children. Over half the sample reported an annual income less than 50% of the federal poverty level. RESULTS: Objectively, total nighttime sleep was 5.5 hours (week 4) and 5.4 hours (week 8). Subjectively, 85% met criteria for "poor sleep quality" at week 4, and nearly half were persistently and severely fatigued through 8 weeks postpartum. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The majority (65%) of women in this study met the definition of "short sleep duration," defined as sleeping ≤ 6 hours per night. Adverse effects of this short sleep on physical and mental health as well as safety and functioning, especially within the context of poverty, may be profound. There is an urgent need for further research on sleep in low-income underrepresented women to identify interventions that can improve sleep and fatigue as well as discern the implications of sleep deprivation on the safety and physical and mental health of this population.
PURPOSE: To describe and explore patterns of postpartum sleep, fatigue, and depressive symptoms in low-income urban women. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this descriptive, exploratory, nonexperimental study, participants were recruited from an inpatient postpartum unit. Subjective measures were completed by 132 participants across five time points. Objective sleep/wake patterns were measured by 72-hour wrist actigraphy at 4 and 8 weeks. Mean sample age was 25 years, high school educated with 3.1 children. Over half the sample reported an annual income less than 50% of the federal poverty level. RESULTS: Objectively, total nighttime sleep was 5.5 hours (week 4) and 5.4 hours (week 8). Subjectively, 85% met criteria for "poor sleep quality" at week 4, and nearly half were persistently and severely fatigued through 8 weeks postpartum. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The majority (65%) of women in this study met the definition of "short sleep duration," defined as sleeping ≤ 6 hours per night. Adverse effects of this short sleep on physical and mental health as well as safety and functioning, especially within the context of poverty, may be profound. There is an urgent need for further research on sleep in low-income underrepresented women to identify interventions that can improve sleep and fatigue as well as discern the implications of sleep deprivation on the safety and physical and mental health of this population.
Authors: Hawley E Montgomery-Downs; Salvatore P Insana; Megan M Clegg-Kraynok; Laura M Mancini Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2010-08-17 Impact factor: 8.661