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Mbada C.1, Oseghale J.1, Akinwande O.2, Adeyemi A.3, Orji O.3, Afolabi K.4
1Obafemi Awolowo University, Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 2University College Hospital, Ibadan, Physiotherapy, Ibadan, Nigeria, 3Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology, College of Health Sciences, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 4Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Nursing Science, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Background: Pregnancy-related changes in women's body shape and size predisposes to negative body image. However, the nexus between pregnancy-related body image and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is still controvertible.
Purpose: This study assessed the relationship between body image and HRQoL among Nigerian nulligravida, pregnant and postpartum women.
Methods: A total of 385 women participated in this cross-sectional study. Body image was assessed in terms of body attitude and body shape perception using Body Attitude Questionnaire (BAQ) and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) respectively. HRQoL was assessed using the SF-12 General Health Status. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at p 0.05.
Results: The mean age of the respondents was 25.6±5.56 years. Postpartum women were most satisfied with their abdomen (95%). There was significant association between body attitude satisfaction and perception about the abdomen (p=0.021) and genitalia (p=0.005). There was higher rate of poor perception of body image among nulligravida (97.9%) and poorer body attitude among the pregnant women (96%). There was significant correlation between BAQ score and health perception (p=0.001), emotional functioning (p=0.001), and mental health (p=0.040) scales of the SF-12. There was significant correlation between BAQ score and each of physical (0.001) and mental (0.040) health domain. Also, there was significant correlation between BSQ score and bodily pain (p=0.020), health perception (p=0.001) and emotional functioning (p=0.003) scales of the SF-12.
Conclusion(s): Postpartum women had better body attitude and body shape perception than their pregnant and nulligravid counterparts. Body attitude is significantly related to health-related quality of life in nulligravid, pregnant and postpartum women. However, body shape perception is only correlated with bodily pain, health perception and emotional functioning scales of the health-related quality of life.
Implications: Education of body image perception and quality of life in routine antenatal and postnatal clinics may help stem the negative consequences of having poor body image.
Funding acknowledgements: Nil
Topic: Women's & mens pelvic health
Ethics approval: Research and Ethics committee, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
