Factors affecting the quality of sleep among pregnant women in Batticaloa Medical Officer of Health area, Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Sleep is a natural physiological process that essential for the physical and mental wellbeing of pregnant women and their fetuses. There are scanty of reported studies available regarding the quality of sleep among pregnant women in Sri Lanka. This study was aimed to describe the quality of sleep among pregnant women and assess the factors associated the quality of sleep in Batticaloa Medical Officer of Health area. The study aimed to describe the quality of sleep among pregnant women and identify the factors affecting the quality of sleep in pregnant women who are attending antenatal care clinics at Batticaloa Medical Officer of Health area. A Descriptive Cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women at antenatal care clinics. A total number of 211 pregnant women were recruited to the study by random sampling method. Study was conducted from October 2022 to September 2023. Data collection was carried out by using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Statistical Package of Social Science 25 (SPSS V.25) was used to enter, analyze and interpret the data. The prevalence of overall sleep quality among pregnant women was poor in 71% (PSQI ≥5) and good in 29% (PSQI<4). The prevalence of poor sleep quality among pregnant women in first, second and third trimester were 59%, 66.2% and 83.1% respectively. Comparison with the first and second trimester, pregnant women in third trimester had higher score of global PSQI (6.50 ±2.70), subjective sleep quality (1.87 ±0.94), sleep latency (1.44 ±0.94), sleep disturbances (1.30 ±0.56) and daytime dysfunction (1.38 ±0.96). The factors significantly associated with overall sleep quality were increased maternal age, educational qualification, environmental disturbances, meditation before sleep, having a traumatic event in the past, gestational age, and single/multiple pregnancy (p<0.05). Subjective feeling of sleep quality was significantly associated with maternal age, monthly family income, environmental disturbances, meditation before sleep, gestational age and gravida (p<0.05). There was a statistical association between sleep latency and age, evening bath, gestational age, gravida, number of children (p<0.05). Sleep duration was associated only with meditation before sleep and body mass index (p<0.05). Daytime dysfunction was significantly associated with maternal age, educational qualification and having a traumatic event in the past. Minor ailments such as pain in lower back, leg cramps and shortness of breathing in lying supine were significantly associated with overall sleep quality, subjective sleep quality, and daytime dysfunction (p<0.05). This study explored the sleep quality of the pregnant women and factors associated with it. Further, the results revealed that majority of the pregnants’ sleep quality was poor. Therefore, it is essential to pay special attention to the quality of sleep for the pregnants. Necessary interventions to be taken to screen, monitor and educate to maintain optimum quality of sleep will be beneficial to the mother and her fetus.