Postpartum morbidities in Iranian women 5 years after childbirth: a longitudinal study

Background: Awareness about the extent of maternal physical and emotional health problems after childbirth is increasing, but few longitudinal studies have been published. Aims: The aim of this study was to describe changes in the prevalence of maternal health problems in the 5 years after birth and their association with parity. Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted in Mahabad, a city in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. The study population comprised women who visited public health-care centres for routine antenatal care from May 2009 to September 2013. Findings: Based on a sample size analysis, 311 women were recruited to the study. Over the 5-year period, 32 participants were lost to follow-up, with a total of 279 participants completing all five stages of the research. Overall, the majority (94%) of postpartum morbidities did not resolve within the first week, and 26% of participants reported experiencing issues 5 years postpartum. Adjusting for the method of birth, primiparous women were more likely than multiparous women to report fatigue at all stages, and sexual problems were most frequently reported by multiparous women. Conclusions: Health problems commonly occurred after childbirth, with some resolution over the 5 years after childbirth. Important differences in prevalence of postpartum morbidities were evident when parity was considered.