METHODS: A prospective double cohort study design was applied at two tertiary referral hospitals over a 6-month period. The study population included all postpartum women who delivered in 2014. Postpartum women with and without SMM were selected as the exposed and non-exposed groups, respectively. For each exposed case identified, a non-exposed case with a similar mode of delivery was selected. The main outcome measures used were scores from the Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12).
RESULTS: The study measured 145 exposed and 187 non-exposed women. The group-time interaction of the repeated measure analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) showed no significant difference in the mean overall SF-12 physical component summary score changes (P = 0.534) between women with and without SMM. Similarly, the group-time interaction of the RM ANOVA showed no significant difference in the mean overall SF-12 mental component summary score changes (P = 0.674) between women with and without SMM. However, women with SMM scored significantly lower on a general health perceptions subscale at 1-month (P = 0.031), role limitations due to physical health subscale at 6-month (P = 0.019), vitality subscale at 1-month (P = 0.007) and 6-month (P = 0.008), and role limitations due to emotional problems subscales at 6-month (P = 0.008).
CONCLUSIONS: Women with severe maternal morbidity demonstrated comparable quality of life during the 6-month postpartum period compared to women without severe maternal morbidity.
METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in two tertiary referral hospitals in 2014. Postpartum women with severe morbidity and without severe morbidity who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were eligible as cases and controls, respectively. The study population included all postpartum women regardless of their age. Pregnancy at less than 22 weeks of gestation, more than 42 days after the termination of pregnancy and non-Malaysian citizens were excluded. Consecutive sampling was applied for the selection of cases and for each case identified, one unmatched control from the same hospital was selected using computer-based simple random sampling. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were performed using Stata Intercooled version 11.0.
RESULTS: A total of 23,422 pregnant women were admitted to these hospitals in 2014 and 395 women with severe maternal morbidity were identified, of which 353 were eligible as cases. An age of 35 or more years old [Adj. OR (95 % CI): 2.6 (1.67, 4.07)], women with past pregnancy complications [Adj. OR (95 % CI): 1.7 (1.00, 2.79)], underwent caesarean section deliveries [Adj. OR (95 % CI): 6.8 (4.68, 10.01)], preterm delivery [Adj. OR (95 % CI): 3.4 (1.87, 6.32)] and referral to tertiary centres [Adj. OR (95 % CI): 2.7 (1.87, 3.97)] were significant associated factors for severe maternal morbidity.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests the enhanced screening and monitoring of women of advanced maternal age, women with past pregnancy complications, those who underwent caesarean section deliveries, those who delivered preterm and the mothers referred to tertiary centres as they are at increased risk of severe maternal morbidity. Identifying these factors may contribute to specific and targeted strategies aimed at tackling the issues related to maternal morbidity.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
SETTING: A dental clinic and a general hospital.
PARTICIPANTS: Parents (N = 84) whose children were less than 12 years old with CL/P.
METHODS: Socio-demographic data and clinical characteristics of CL/P were collected. Self-administered validated Malay versions of the stress scale from the Depressive, Anxiety and Stress Scale-42 (DASS-42) and COPE Inventory questionnaires were used. Descriptive statistics and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance were used for data analysis.
RESULTS: The prevalence of stress among parents of children with CL/P was 21.4% [95% confidence interval (12.4, 30.4)]. The most common coping strategies were problem-focused (mean 58.15, standard deviation (SD) 7.75), followed by emotion-focused (mean 54.05, SD 4.78). The adjusted mean score for overall coping strategies was significantly different between stressed and non-stressed parents after adjustment for education, number of children, sex of child with CL/P, and cleft type [F (df) = 4.174 (3,74), P = .009]. There was a significant mean difference between stressed and non-stressed parents for avoidant coping strategies [P = .003]. Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies did not differ after Bonferroni correction.
CONCLUSIONS: Around a fifth of parents caring for children with CL/P experienced stress and avoidant coping strategies were more common among stressed parents. Multi-disciplinary team care should provide social support to parents of children with CL/P.