Prevalence and predictors of sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality and their associated perinatal outcomes during the third trimester of pregnancy

Objectives: Maternal sleep deprivation not only affects the pregnant mother but also has profound effects on the well-being of the foetus. This study aims to assess the prevalence and predictors of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and poor sleep quality (PSQ). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among in-patient post-natal women of a tertiary care teaching hospital. A pretested semi-structured standardised questionnaire was administered. EDS was assessed using the Epworth sleepiness scale and PSQ was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: A total of 225 participants were enrolled. The prevalence of EDS was 29.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 23.5, 35.8) and the prevalence of PSQ was 72.9% (95% CI = 66.6, 78.6). The factors (adjusted odds ratio; 95% CI; p-value) that were significantly associated with EDS were age (1.082; 1.019, 3.102; 0.042), being overweight (1.248; 1.012, 3.834; 0.041), low haemoglobin (1.246; 1.007, 4.572; 0.043), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (1.267; 1.001, 7.239; 0.049). On the other hand, the factors associated with PSQ were young age (1.092; 1.035, 3.763; 0.028), being overweight (1.602; 1.029, 2.995; 0.035), low haemoglobin (1.328; 1.004, 4.963; 0.047), and GDM (1.659; 1.284, 4.112; 0.016). No significant associations were found between perinatal outcomes and EDS or PSQ. Additionally, poor sleep practices were observed in our study participants. Conclusion: In this study, EDS and PSQ were significantly prevalent among participants, and their major predictors were age, haemoglobin, being overweight, and GDM.