Justine Slomian1, Jean-Yves Reginster2, Patrick Emonts3, Olivier Bruyère2,4,5. 1. Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, Quartier Hôpital, Avenue Hippocrate 13, Bât. B23, 4000, Liège, Belgium. jslomian@uliege.be. 2. Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, Quartier Hôpital, Avenue Hippocrate 13, Bât. B23, 4000, Liège, Belgium. 3. Division and Head of the Public Health Department, Bone and Cartilage metabolism Department, CHU Liège, Quai Godefroid Kurth 45, 4000, Liège, Belgium. patrick.emonts@chuliege.be. 4. Division and Head of the Public Health Department, Bone and Cartilage metabolism Department, CHU Liège, Quai Godefroid Kurth 45, 4000, Liège, Belgium. 5. Division of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate 13, Bât. B23, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The postnatal period is associated with new needs for mothers. Four categories of needs were highlighted in a previous study: for information, for psychological support, for the sharing of experiences and for practical and material support. To ensure that these four needs are inherent to the postpartum period, the aims of this study is to examine these needs by comparing recent mothers' needs with the needs of pregnant women. METHODS: The 4 needs previously identified were cross-sectionally investigated by online self-reported questionnaires completed by women in their last trimester of pregnancy and by mothers who had a child between 0 and 6 months of age. RESULTS: The 4 needs were largely present during the postpartum period. The need for information seemed to be more present during pregnancy (92.4 %) than during the postpartum period (84.6 %, p = 0.03), but women used the Internet significantly more often to search for information after childbirth (54.8 %) than during pregnancy (41.2 %, p < 0.0001). The needs for psychological support and to share experiences seemed to be closely linked. Even if the global satisfaction with psychological support was fairly high, it weakened after childbirth (p < 0.05). Feelings of loneliness (p < 0.0001) and depression scores (p = 0.01) were also higher during the postpartum period than during pregnancy. Finally, the need for practical support was also more pronounced during the postpartum period than during pregnancy (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: All mothers seem to meet the 4 identified needs during the postpartum period but at different levels of intensity. Trying to meet these needs could offer an opportunity to improve mothers' quality of life.
BACKGROUND: The postnatal period is associated with new needs for mothers. Four categories of needs were highlighted in a previous study: for information, for psychological support, for the sharing of experiences and for practical and material support. To ensure that these four needs are inherent to the postpartum period, the aims of this study is to examine these needs by comparing recent mothers' needs with the needs of pregnant women. METHODS: The 4 needs previously identified were cross-sectionally investigated by online self-reported questionnaires completed by women in their last trimester of pregnancy and by mothers who had a child between 0 and 6 months of age. RESULTS: The 4 needs were largely present during the postpartum period. The need for information seemed to be more present during pregnancy (92.4 %) than during the postpartum period (84.6 %, p = 0.03), but women used the Internet significantly more often to search for information after childbirth (54.8 %) than during pregnancy (41.2 %, p < 0.0001). The needs for psychological support and to share experiences seemed to be closely linked. Even if the global satisfaction with psychological support was fairly high, it weakened after childbirth (p < 0.05). Feelings of loneliness (p < 0.0001) and depression scores (p = 0.01) were also higher during the postpartum period than during pregnancy. Finally, the need for practical support was also more pronounced during the postpartum period than during pregnancy (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: All mothers seem to meet the 4 identified needs during the postpartum period but at different levels of intensity. Trying to meet these needs could offer an opportunity to improve mothers' quality of life.
Authors: Della A Forster; Helen L McLachlan; Jo Rayner; Jane Yelland; Lisa Gold; Sharon Rayner Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2008-07-22 Impact factor: 3.007
Authors: J Slomian; P Emonts; L Vigneron; A Acconcia; F Glowacz; J Y Reginster; M Oumourgh; O Bruyère Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2017-07-03 Impact factor: 3.007
Authors: Madison P Hardman; Kristin A Reynolds; Sarah K Petty; Teaghan A M Pryor; Shayna K Pierce; Matthew T Bernstein; Patricia Furer Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2022-03-15 Impact factor: 3.007
Authors: Swetha Sampathkumar; Meenakshi Sankar; Sankar Ramasamy; Nivedita Sriram; Ponnusamy Saravanan; Uma Ram Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-22 Impact factor: 4.614