Abstract:
Background: The postpartum period is a critical phase of a woman’s life, marked by
significant physical, emotional and social changes. These changes can affect the overall
health and well-being of postpartum women. Identifying the health status during the
postpartum period is crucial to understanding the challenges faced by postpartum
women.
Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the health status among postpartum women
in Dhaka District.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design with 101 postpartum women.
The SF-36 questionnaire was used for research, and data were analysed using SPSS
version 25.
Results: Among 101 participants, the scores for various health-related factors were as
follows: Physical functioning was 53.56%, role limitation due to physical health was
42.00%, emotional problems were rated at 72.27%, energy or fatigue was measured at
53.36%, mental health was scored at 70.65%, social functioning was 62.50%, body pain
was rated at 56.65%, and general health was recorded at 62.32%.
Conclusion: The study identified moderate challenges related to physical functioning,
role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, and
general health. On the other hand, mental health and role limitations stemming from
emotional issues showed relatively better outcomes. Additionally, normal delivery was
linked to improved physical health, while complications during pregnancy had a
negative impact on health status.
Keywords: Postpartum women, Health status, Physical functioning, Mental Health
Description:
This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Occupational therapy, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
