Assessment of Quality of Life among Pregnant Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Maternity and Gynecological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University.

2 Internal Medicine & Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University.

Abstract

Background: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex chronic autoimmune
condition that represents a source of disability, creating a burden on the quality of life during
pregnancy and affecting maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes. Aim: This study aimed to assess
the quality of life among pregnant women with SLE. Methods: A descriptive design was used.
This study was conducted at Rheumatology Antenatal Outpatient Clinic at Ain Shams Maternity
Hospital. A purposive sampling was used to recruit fifty pregnant women diagnosed as SLE,
regardless of their education level. Tools: (1) an Arabic interviewing questionnaire for pregnant
women with SLE, (2) a quality of life questionnaire for women with SLE, (3) a systemic lupus
erythematosus disease activity index and (4) a health assessment questionnaire for women with
SLE. Results: findings of the present study revealed that less than half of the study women had
age range between 30 to 39 years. The quality of life of the study women was affected regarding
its three domains; social, followed by physical and least the psychological domain. Conclusion:
Result supported the research question, that systemic lupus erythematosus had significant
negative effects on the quality of life among pregnant women with SLE. Recommendations:
Awareness raising programs should be provided for pregnant women about SLE to reduce
challenges of flare and remission during pregnancy and improve their quality of life and
pregnancy outcomes. It is preferable to conduct the programs for women with SLE at premarital
and preconception periods of life.

Keywords

Egyptian Journal of Health Care
Volume 10, Issue 4
December 2019
Pages 82-95

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