Objective This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with poor sleep quality in women in the postpartum period who were assisted in a municipality in central Brazil. Material and Methods This is a cross-sectional study ( n = 400) conducted virtually from 2020 to 2021. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, self-perceived sleep, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were assessed. Results It was identified that 82% of postpartum women were between 18 and 35-years-old and had an average monthly household income of R$2,339.27 ± 1,812.95. It was also found that 33.50% (95% CI: 28.7-38.0) had sleep disorders (PSQI >10); 70.25% (95%CI 65.8-74.8) had poor sleep quality (PSQI >5); 57.4% (95% CI: 52.0-63.1) had inadequate sleep on weekdays/workdays; and 64.1% (95% CI 59.3-69.2) had unsuitable sleep on weekends/days off. It was found that the factors associated with sleep disturbance were: age between <18 years and >35 years ( p = 0.048); difficulty to think clearly ( p = 0.043); frequent sadness ( p = 0.046); poor sleep quality; low income ( p = 0.030); difficulty to think clearly ( p = 0.013); and loss of interest in things ( p = 0.030). As for sleep on weekdays, the associated factors were: marital status without a partner ( p = 0.008); and being a victim of physical violence ( p = 0.003). Finally, for sleep on weekends/off: nonwhite skin-color ( p = 0.039); and having postpartum depression ( p = 0.029). Conclusion The findings of the present study call attention to the impacts of changes in women's bodies, behavior, and interpersonal relationships caused by the arrival of a newborn. We also highlight the need for a multidisciplinary and comprehensive medical approach in this period.
Keywords: postpartum; sleep quality; women's health.
Brazilian Sleep Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).