Abstract:
For pregnant women, diabetes mellitus increases the risk of negative maternal and infant health conditions, thus affecting the womens health-related quality of life. This correlational research study aimed to examine factors associated with health-related quality of life in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus. The sample was 150 pregnant women with diabetes mellitus who attended antenatal services in public hospitals in the upper northern region of Thailand. Research instruments were personal and obstetrics questionnaires, the 12-Item Short-Form HealthSurvey-Version 2(SF-12v2), the self-management questionnaire and the social support questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearsons correlation coefficient, Spearman rank correlation coefficient and point biserial correlation coefficient. The results showed that an average health-related quality of life of 66.86, considered a good level. Statistically significant (p< .05), blood sugar levels (r= -.209, p< .05), self-management (r= .438, p< .01) and social support (r= .414, p< .01). Education level (r= -.030, p= .72), income (r= -.091, p< .27) and type of diabetes mellitus (r= -.031, p= .71) were not significantly associated with health-related quality of life. The findings of this study suggest that nurses should assess age, blood sugar level, self-management, and social support during prenatal visits of pregnant women with diabetes mellitus. In addition, activities to promote health-related quality of life knowledge and providing opportunities for families to participate in care activities should enhance health-related quality of life among pregnant women with diabetes mellitus.