Abstract:
: 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.
Keywords: happiness, pregnancy, women, level, associated factors
