Spousal Involvement in Postpartum Care and Health Related Quality of Life of Postpartum Women in Selected Hospitals in Ondo State

The study assessed the level of spousal involvement and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among postpartum women in selected hospitals in Ondo State, Nigeria. A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. Data were collected from 386 postnatal women between January and May 2023 using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 28. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) summarized participants’ characteristics, while linear regression examined the association between spousal involvement and HRQoL at a 0.05 significance level. Most respondents were aged 26–35 years (53.6%), with a mean age of 33.5 years (SD = 0.7). The majority had two children (32.1%), were Christians (74.1%), and of Yoruba ethnicity (60.1%). About 6.0% had no formal education, 62.7% were self-employed, and 39.4% earned less than ₦30,000 monthly. Overall, 14.9% reported poor spousal involvement in postpartum care. HRQoL was generally high (77%), although 23% had low scores. The most common reason for limited spousal participation was distance from residence to the hospital (57.5%). Sociodemographic factors such as age, parity, religion, ethnicity, education, occupation, and income were significantly associated with spousal involvement. Spousal involvement was also significantly associated with HRQoL (F[2,384] = 281.95, p < 0.001, R = 0.651, R² = 0.423, Adjusted R² = 0.422, SE = 0.857). These findings underscore the need for targeted awareness and educational interventions to enhance spousal support and improve maternal well-being during the postpartum period.