Prevalence and associated risk factors of insomnia among pregnant women in China

Insomnia is common during pregnancy but the prevalence and risk factors of insomnia in Chinese women during pregnancy is not well studied. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of insomnia and its risk factors in Chinese women during pregnancy. In this cross sectional study, 436 Chinese pregnant women with Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) ≥ 8 were clinically assessed using the insomnia criteria based on the combination of DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-4th Edition) and ICD-10 (International Classification of Dieases, 10th Edition). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS), Pregnancy Pressure Scale (PPS), Perceived physical discomfort level and number, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and a general socio-demographic questionnaire were administered. The results showed that about 20% of the pregnant women met the strict diagnosis criteria of insomnia. Independent-samples t-test revealed that several risk factors were correlated with the group with insomnia (N = 84) compared to the group without insomnia (N = 352). Binary Logistic regression analysis found that more significant bed partner influence (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.03–3.60), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00–1.14), daytime sleepiness (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01–1.14), subjective somatic discomfort (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.11–4.65), kinds of somatic discomfort (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03–1.27) and later gestation (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.09) were significantly associated with insomnia. In this cohort of Chinese pregnant women, about a fifth of women suffered from clinically significant insomnia. Measures to prevent the adverse effects of insomnia should be provided to pregnant women with depressive symptoms, Sleep disturbance of the bed partner, excessive daytime sleepiness and somatic discomfort, especially late in gestation. •In Chinese pregnant women, about a fifth of women met strict clinical diagnosis of insomnia.•Insomnia were significantly associated with partner influence, depression, daytime sleepiness, somatic discomfort and the late gestation.•Further explorations are warranted to develop optimal psychosocial and physical interventions to reduce insomnia in pregnant women.