Association Between Recent Experience of Childbirth and Sleep Quality in South Korean Women: Results from a Nationwide Study

Introduction: Although women commonly report deterioration of sleep quality postpartum, this relationship has been less studied in East Asian countries. This study investigated the association between recent experience of childbirth and sleep quality in South Korean women and additionally examined how healthy practice behavior interplays in the stated relationship. Methods: Data from the 2018 Community Health Survey were used. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Women who responded to have given birth in the past year were categorized as having a recent experience of childbirth. The general characteristics of the study population were investigated using chi-square test. The association between the dependent and independent variables was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Of a total of 41,708 study participants, 16,877 (40.5%) individuals reported poor sleep quality. Poor sleep quality was more common in women with a recent experience of childbirth (48.4%) than those without (40.0%). Compared to individuals without a recent experience of childbirth, those with such an experience were more likely to show poor sleep quality (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.34-1.68). Such differences were reduced in individuals with a healthy lifestyle. Conclusion: Recent experience of childbirth was associated with higher likelihoods of poor sleep quality in women. The degree of risks found was reduced in individuals practicing a healthy lifestyle habit. The findings infer the need to monitor and address sleep-related disturbances commonly reported among postpartum women.