Prevalence and determinants of sleep disturbances among pregnant women: an Indian community-based cross-sectional study

Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of sleep disturbances among pregnant women in Kolar District, Karnataka, India. It focused on specific disturbances, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and poor sleep quality across pregnancy trimesters. A cross-sectional community-based study among 251 pregnant women was conducted. Sleep disturbances using validated tools, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), STOP-Bang and single-question RLS screener tool were measured. Bivariate logistic regression was followed by multivariate logistic regression identified significant predictors. Sleep disturbances were highly prevalent, with poor sleep quality being most common (39.84%), followed by OSA (13.55%), EDS-moderate and severe category (11.56%), insomnia (9.6%), and RLS (6.80%). Proportion of pregnant women who screened positive for any sleep disturbance was 49.4%. Disturbances increased as pregnancy progressed, particularly in the third trimester. Significant predictors included increased neck circumference (aOR 1.08; p = 0.003), high-risk pregnancy (aOR 3.37; p < 0.001), and pregnancy trimester. Primigravida women were less likely to experience sleep issues compared to multigravida women (aOR 0.54; p = 0.034). High-risk pregnancies were associated with increased odds of OSA, insomnia, and EDS. Our study highlights the significant burden of sleep disturbances among pregnant women, with poor sleep quality being the most prevalent. High-risk pregnancies, increased neck circumference, and multigravida status were key determinants. Our findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to improve maternal sleep quality and reduce potential adverse outcomes.