https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1095-9373
Abstract
Background
Happiness is the most indicator of good quality of life particularly for pregnant women. Reduced happiness of pregnant women can result in reduced maternal health services utilization and can result in adverse newborn and maternal outcomes. Assessing the level of happiness and its factors are important for pregnant women and the next generation. Hence, the current research paper aimed to assess the level of happiness and its associated factors among pregnant women who attended antenatal care follow-up in South Gondar Zone Hospitals.
Methods
Institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out from September 2018 to February 2019 among 1606 expectant pregnant women in the last 6 months. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) was used as a measure of the degree of happiness and used four as average person score. Besides, bivariate, multivariable logistic analyses were deployed to identify associations.
Results
A total of 1606 pregnant women were participating in this study. The prevalence of low level of pregnancy happiness in this study was 24% (95% CI: 20.7 −26.6). Mothers who exposed to unintended pregnancy (AOR; 1.94, CI 95% 1.86–4.52), reported intimate partner violence (AOR; 2.42, 95% CI 1.67–3.54) and being in the third trimester (AOR; 1.89 95% CI 1.19–3.01) were the most predictor variables with the low level of happiness.
Conclusion
Approximately one-fourth of the pregnant women had a low level of pregnancy happiness. Mothers who were exposed to unintended pregnancy encountered intimate partner violence, who were in the third trimester were the most significant variables associated with a low level of happiness. Governmental and non-governmental organizations work on women’s reproduction rights and the zonal health department with local health offices should educate on the prevention of intimate partner violence and unintended pregnancy and its consequences and also empower women to cope with changes and challenges of pregnancy and childbirth.
Acknowledgments
Our deepest gratitude goes to study participants, data collectors, supervisors, and Debre Tabor University.
Author Contributions
DT, WA, AD, and MT conceptualized the idea, and DT, MT, BK, SA, and BA analyzed and wrote the original draft. DT and SA supervised the overall study. All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest in this work.