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The physical and social environment of sleep in socioeconomically disadvantaged postpartum women. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2013;42(1):E33-43

Date

11/28/2012

Pubmed ID

23181913

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3546265

DOI

10.1111/j.1552-6909.2012.01421.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84872402306 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   16 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the physical and social environment of sleep self-management in postpartum socioeconomically disadvantaged women.

DESIGN: Descriptive, exploratory design.

SETTING: Participants were recruited in the hospital after giving birth. Data were collected in participant homes after discharge.

PARTICIPANTS: Postpartum women on Medicaid with normal healthy infants.

METHODS: Participants completed a survey about features within their physical and social sleep environment at 2 weeks postpartum. Participants then completed 3 days and nights of sleep diaries at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum to document perceived awakenings, select sleep hygiene practices, bed sharing, and reasons for sleep disruption.

RESULTS: The sleep environments of participants were dynamic from night to night. Bed sharing was common with nearly one half of participants sharing with a partner, approximately 25% with the infant, and 20% with older children. Fifty-two percent of participants slept with the television on part (31%) or all (69%) of the night. Eighty-five percent of participants drank caffeine and 24% smoked.

CONCLUSIONS: These results inform theory-driven postpartum sleep interventions. Modifications to the physical and social sleep environment that attend specifically to how sleep hygiene and environmental factors are manifested in the postpartum period have the potential to improve sleep for socioeconomically disadvantaged women. Future research is needed to articulate which changes can be effectively self-managed by mothers through nursing interventions.

Author List

Doering JJ

Author

Jennifer Doering PhD Associate Professor in the Nursing department at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Alcohol Drinking
Caffeine
Environment
Family Characteristics
Female
Health Promotion
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Midwestern United States
Poverty
Puerperal Disorders
Risk Factors
Self Report
Sleep Wake Disorders
Smoking
Social Environment
Television