Social support and health related quality of life among pregnant women

Objective: To explore the relationship between social support and health-related quality of life among pregnant women. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at City Hospital, Kashrote, and District Headquarters Hospital in the city of Gilgit, Pakistan, from January to March2017. Pregnant women presenting to the two hospitals were approached for data collection. The chronological age range of the sample was 15-35 years and age of pregnancy in months were included. Social support of pregnant women was measured through multidimensional scale of perceived social support and health-related quality of life was measured through medical outcomes study questionnaire. Results: Of the 120 participants, 66(55%) were from the City Hospital, Kashrote, and 54(45%) from the District Headquarters Hospital. Subjects who were in their first trimester of pregnancy were 72(60%), while 25(20.8%) were in their second trimester and 23 (19.2%) in the third. Of the total, 80(66.66%) were educated women and 40 (33.34%) were illiterate. Subjects with a history of physical illness were 76 (63.30%) while 60 (50%) suffered from psychological illness too. There was a significantly positive relationship between social support and health-related quality of life among the pregnant subjects (p<0.05). Conclusion: More social support, can increase the health-related quality of life of pregnant women.