SHIOW-RU CHANGChen K.-H.HONG-NERNG HOYEUR-HUR LAILin M.-I.CHIEN-NAN LEELin W.-A.2021-02-042021-02-0420140020-7489https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84955694776&doi=10.1016%2fj.ijnurstu.2015.04.019&partnerID=40&md5=20a6b2c914382ae83dddc7805a03dc65https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/547746BACKGROUND: Childbirth has a significant impact on maternal health, and the high rate of cesarean delivery is a global health concern. Few studies have used validated measures to explore depression, pain, and sexual dysfunction following vaginal or cesarean delivery over a prolonged time period. OBJECTIVE: We examined the associations between vaginal and cesarean delivery and depressive symptoms, pain, and sexual function during the 1-year postpartum period. DESIGN: A prospective, five-time-point longitudinal study. SETTING: Maternity unit at a medical center. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 351 of 736 women completed a questionnaire that described demographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and pain levels at 3-5 days postpartum, and updated personal data, depressive symptoms, pain levels, and sexual function at 4-6 weeks and at 3, 6, and 12 months after delivery. METHODS: Differences between the vaginal and cesarean groups in depressive symptoms, pain, and sexual function and trends of changes in these factors over the first postpartum year were examined. RESULTS: Compared with the vaginal birth group, the cesarean birth group had a significantly higher prevalence of depressive symptoms at 3 months (p=0.03); higher scores for non-localized pain at 3-5 days (p<0.001), 4-6 weeks (p=0.03), and 3 months (p=0.046); higher scores for abdominal pain at 3-5 days (p<0.001), 4-6 weeks (p<0.001), and 6 months (p=0.01); lower perineal pain scores at 3-5 days (p <0.001); and higher sexual desire scores (p=0.04) but lower sexual satisfaction scores (p=0.02) at 4-6 weeks. Differences between the vaginal and cesarean groups were significant (p=0.01, p=0.049, respectively) in terms of the decrease in non-localized pain from 3-5 days to 4-6 weeks postpartum and the increase in sexual desire from 4-6 weeks to 3 months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: Cesarean delivery was associated with an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms at 3 months and higher pain levels that persisted at 6 months postpartum in Taiwan. We found no difference in sexual function between vaginal and cesarean delivery after 6 weeks postpartum, and no differences in the trends related to depressive symptoms or in sexual functioning (except for desire) within 1 year postpartum. ? 2015 Elsevier Ltd.[SDGs]SDG3adult; adverse effects; cesarean section; Depression, Postpartum; female; human; longitudinal study; obstetric delivery; pain; pregnancy; prospective study; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Taiwan; Adult; Cesarean Section; Delivery, Obstetric; Depression, Postpartum; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Pain; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Taiwanjournal article10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.04.019260081342-s2.0-84955694776