Comparison of the effect of delivery type on the quality of life in women attending to health centers of Ilam and Aivan during 2013

In the postpartum period, is created some physical, psychological and social changes, which influences the quality of life for mothers and their families. Due to the importance of life quality, the postpartum period and postnatal factors affecting quality of life, including delivery type, this study was performed to compare the quality of life in women after normal vaginal delivery and cesarean section, eight weeks after delivery. In this descriptive-analytical study, the study population was 100 women 18-35 years old, who referred to Ilam and Aivan health centers at 2013. Quality of life of samples was assessed in the 2-8 weeks of postnatal life, using SF-36 questioner. The results showed that the quality of life aspects scores in normal vaginal delivery were 76.60±17.77 and more than cesarean section (54.10± 17.72). The mean score of mental life quality domain in normal vaginal delivery was 67.60±19.04, which was higher than the cesarean section group with a mean score of 63.60±15.71. The findings showed differences between cesarean section and vaginal delivery groups in different domains of quality of life (p<0.001). The results showed that quality of life is higher in women with vaginal delivery compared with cesarean delivery in the first eight postpartum. Therefore, health care provider’s advices could be effective in reducing elective cesarean section and consequently the improvement of life quality in women after delivery.