Functionality and quality of life in different gestational trimesters: A cross‐sectional study
Bianca de Lima Archanjo, Ana Carolina Sartorato Beleza, Mariana Paleari Zanoni, Clara Maria de Araujo Silva, Helen Cristina Nogueira CarrerAbstract
Objective
To compare functionality and quality of life in pregnant women in different trimesters.
Methods
An observational cross‐sectional study was conducted with pregnant women ≥18 years of age undergoing prenatal care. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the WHO Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL‐Bref), WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0), and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Descriptive analysis was performed for the characterization of the participants. Functionality scores, quality of life scores, and comparisons between trimesters were analyzed using Welch's analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Games‐Howell post hoc test ( P < 0.05).
Results
A total of 110 pregnant women participated: 28.2% ( n = 31) in the first trimester (mean age: 32.9 ± 4.3 years), 30.9% ( n = 34) in the second (31.9 ± 5.3), and 40.9% ( n = 45) in the third (30.2 ± 5.38). Mean parity across the trimesters was 0.77 ± 0.9, 0.8 ± 1.1, and 0.86 ± 0.9, respectively. Functionality scores were worse in the third trimester (WHODAS: 18.2 in the first, 22.5 in the second, and 25.9 in the third; P < 0.001). Quality of life decreased in the physical ( P = 0.003), social relationships ( P = 0.022), and environment ( P < 0.001) domains. No significant difference was found in the psychological domain.
Conclusion
Functionality and quality of life varied during pregnancy, affecting mobility and physical performance. Social relationships and environmental domains were impacted, while the psychological domain remained unaltered.