Concentrations of Ascorbic Acid in the Plasma of Pregnant Smokers and Nonsmokers and their Newborns

2004 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
de Oliveira ◽  
de Carvalho Rondó ◽  
de Moraes Barros

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the differences in vitamin C status of Brazilian pregnant women smokers and nonsmokers and their respective newborn babies, and to assess the prevalence of hypovitaminosis C among these two groups of women. The study involved 127 pregnant women, 40 pregnant smokers and 87 pregnant nonsmokers, admitted to a maternity hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Data concerning the pregnant women's socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric, and nutritional characteristics were collected, as well as data concerning the newborns' anthropometry and Apgar scores. A strongly significant correlation (p < 0.001) was found between the concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) in both pregnant smokers (r = 0.77) and pregnant nonsmokers (r = 0.61) and their respective umbilical cords. The mean umbilical AA concentration was significantly higher than the mean AA concentration in pregnant women (92.05 ± 41.13 vs. 33.39 ± 18.25 mumol/L, p < 0.001). It was observed that the mean AA was significantly lower for the newborns (p = 0.03) and pregnant women (p = 0.02) from the smoking group. Forty percent (40%) of the smokers and 27% of the nonsmokers presented hypovitaminosis C. We suggest an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables by pregnant women, especially the smokers.

Author(s):  
Daniela Ferreira D’Agostini Marin ◽  
Amanda Wernke ◽  
Daniela Dannehl ◽  
Dyulie Araujo ◽  
Gustavo Koch ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate C-section rates, before and after the implementation of the Project Appropriate Birth based on the Robson 10-group classification system. DESIGN: An observational, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Maternity hospital in South Brazil. POPULATION: All pregnant women attending, April 2016 through April 2017 (phase 1, pre-implementation of the Project Appropriate Birth) and June 2017 through June 2018 (phase 2, post-implementation of the Project Appropriate Birth). METHODS: Maternal and obstetric characteristics were evaluated, including Robson’s classification, based on the characteristics of pregnancy and childbirth. Chi-square test and crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were used to analyze study variables. The significance level was set at 5%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: C-section rate for each group, their contribution to the overall c-section rate and the differences in these contributions before and after PPA implementation. RESULTS: C-section rates decreased from 62.4% to 55.6%, which represented a 10.9% reduction after the implementation of the Project Appropriate Birth. Pregnant women in Robson classification groups 1 through 4 had the greatest decrease in C-section rates, ranging from 49.1% to 38.6%, which represents a 21.5% reduction. The greatest contributors to the overall C-section rates were group 5 and group 2, accounting for more than 60% of the C-section deliveries. CONCLUSION: The Project Appropriate Birth had an important impact on the reduction of C-section rates, especially in Robson classification groups 1 through 4, which indicates that providing mothers with evidence-based interventions for labor and childbirth assistance will contribute to reduce C-section rates.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e32810111226
Author(s):  
Gabriela Bohrer Bolsson ◽  
Jessica Klöckner Knorst ◽  
Marília Cunha Maroneze ◽  
Maísa Casarin ◽  
Patrícia Pasquali Dotto ◽  
...  

Objective: To assess factors associated with the average number of dental caries in pregnant women. Method: Basic research design: This cross-sectional study was performed between January 2017 and December 2018 in Santa Maria, Brazil. Clinical setting and participants: Multistage random sampling resulted in the recruitment of 256 pregnant women from public health centers across the city. Clinical exams and semi-structured questionnaires including demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral questions were performed by trained interviewers. Main outcome measure: The experience of dental caries was evaluated through the mean value of the Decay, Missing, and Filled Surface Index (DMFS) by 4 trained and calibrated examiners. Multilevel Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the influence of different variables on the average number of dental caries. Rate ratio (RR) and respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated (CI 95%). Results: The prevalence of untreated dental caries was 62.7% in the sample, while the mean DMFS index was 10.27 (± 10.92). Women who smoked during pregnancy had a higher mean DMFS (RR 1.41; 95% CI 1.25-1.57). Furthermore, pregnant women who had poor self-ratings of oral health had a higher average DMFS (RR 1.21; 95% CI 1.10-1.32). Conclusions: The results showed that older age, ethnicity, fewer years in education and the presence of dental plaque resulted in higher means of DMFS.


Author(s):  
P. Kalpana ◽  
A. Kavitha

Background: The objective was to study the determinants of anemia among pregnant women. There is a negative effect on the health of the mother and as well as that of the child due to anemia in women with pregnancy. Death rate is more in women who are pregnant and having anemia. The objective of this study was to study the determinants of anemia among pregnant women.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out among 40 pregnant women over a period of six months. Demographic data like age, residence, occupation etc was recorded. Obstetric data like gravida, parity, previous LSCS was also recorded. The data was presented as means and student’s t test was applied.Results: The mean age was 23.43±3.4 years. Majority were young between the ages of 19-22 years. Majority belonged to urban residents i.e. 57.5%. 20% of the subjects were found to be illiterate. Majority of the mothers were housewives i.e. 82.5%. Majority were multi-gravida i.e. 60%. Majority had no history of abortions in the past i.e. 75%. Out of total 19 repeat pregnancies, majority i.e. 84.2% had lower segment cesarean section. Majority reported that they had normal menstrual history. The mean hemoglobin level was found out to be 7.94 gm/dl. It was found that the mean hemoglobin level did not differ significantly across age, residence, education, occupation, gravidity, history of abortions, type of delivery but differed significantly by abnormal menstrual cycle.Conclusions: Mean hemoglobin level was more in women with normal menstrual history compared to those women with abnormal menstrual history and this difference was found out to be statistically significant. Hence abnormal menses should be promptly treated, hemoglobin assessed.


Author(s):  
Gideon Kofi Helegbe ◽  
Paul Armah Aryee ◽  
Baba Sulemana Mohammed ◽  
Anthony Wemakor ◽  
David Kolbila ◽  
...  

Background. Coinfections are becoming common risk factors that may contribute to the increased burden of morbidity in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of coinfections of malaria, hepatitis B (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (ANC) in the Tamale Metropolis. Methods. By means of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), pregnant women attending the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) were screened for malaria, HBV infection, HIV infection, and syphilis from March 2013 to February 2015. Haemoglobin (Hb) values, sickling, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) statuses were also assessed using full blood count (FBC), sodium metabisulphite, and methaemoglobin reduction tests, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the risks/odds ratios (ORs) for the coinfections and other variables (age, gravidity, and time of the first ANC visit) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and set p values for accepting any differences at <0.05. Results. Within the two-year study period, data were collected from 3,127 pregnant women. The mean age (SD) of the pregnant women was 28.5 (±5.0) years. Of the total number, seroprevalence was high for malaria (11.6%) and HBV infection (4.2%) and low for HIV infection (1.0%) and syphilis (0.4%) monoinfections. Mal/HBV coinfection was higher (0.7%) when compared with Mal/HIV (0.1%), Mal/syphilis (0.0%), HBV/HIV (0.0%), HBV/syphilis (0.1%), and HIV/syphilis (0.0%) coinfections. The mean Hb (g/dl) for the women with the four monoinfections was significantly different from one another (p=0.009). Pregnant women with malaria infection were about 2 times more likely to be coinfected with HBV even after adjusting for potential confounders (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.04–2.65, p=0.031). Those in their third trimester and visiting the ANC for the first time were significantly less likely to be infected with HBV (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.28–0.73, p=0.001), with malaria/HBV coinfection (AOR = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.01–0.68, p=0.020), and with any coinfection (AOR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.06–0.63, p=0.007). Conclusion. A comparatively high seroprevalence of malaria and its coinfection with HBV in pregnant women was observed in this study. Considering the effects that both malaria and HBV have on the liver, it would be expedient to conduct further studies to assess liver function among malaria/HBV-infected individuals, while interventions to prevent coinfections among pregnant women are intensified.


Author(s):  
Fatima Aslam ◽  
Karimah Hanim Abd Aziz ◽  
Nurjasmine Aida Jamani ◽  
Razman Mohd Rus

Introduction: Co-morbidities such as obesity, gestational diabetes and pregnancy induced hypertension during pregnancy can be dangerous to the mother and foetus. Regular physical activity during pregnancy not only maintains maternal and foetal wellbeing, but it also maintains physical fitness and brings various health benefits. However, many women reduce their physical activity levels during pregnancy.Objectives: Thus, this study aimed to identify the barriers that could prevent pregnant mothers from doing physical activities.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 168 pregnant women aged 18 to 35 years between gestational age 12 to 35 weeks in a primary health clinic in Kuantan, Pahang. Their socio-demographic characteristics were recorded, and barriers for physical activity assessed through a set of pre-tested questionnaire.Descriptive statisticswere used to describe the sociodemographiccharacteristics and the barriers.Results: The mean (SD) age was 28.0 (3.6) and majority of them were of Malay ethnicity from B40 group. Two thirds (74.4%) had tertiary education and 66.7% were working mothers. More than half (53.0%) of the participants wereoverweight and obese.Moreover, 58% of the participants had leg cramp and 63.1% felt fatigue. Almost 80.4% had backache and 46.4% had epigastric discomfort.Conclusion: Barriers such as leg cramp, backache, fatigue and epigastric discomfort could prevent pregnant women from conducting physical activities. Opportunistic recommendation by physician and concerns on the physical activity should be addressed.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2021 Page: S23


Author(s):  
Mahshid Ahmadi ◽  
Hamed J Jafarpour ◽  
Jaber Mousavi ◽  
Alireza Razavi

Introduction: The first 28 days after birth is one of the most critical neonate life stages and mother is the most important person meeting the basic needs of the baby. Besides the importance of knowledge about neonatal care maternal confidence is also important. The aim of this study was the evaluation of maternal confidence in neonatal care among primiparous pregnant women.Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 445 pregnant women who experienced pregnancy for the first time and referred to maternity care centers for prenatal care were studied. The translated Chinese version of the Maternal Confidence Questionnaire to local language was used. The validity of the questionnaire was approved by three experienced pediatrics professors. Reliability of the questionnaire using the test-retest method examined, 35 pregnant women (selected from a similar setting but out of the study area). Cronbach's alpha with r = 0.81 was acceptable.Results: In this study, information about 445 women were evaluated. The mean age of the subjects was 28.39 years (SD = 4.66, range = 19 - 39). The mean (SD) of the total maternal confidence score was 58.87(3.75), Which included knowledge (21.09 ± 2.1), tasks (22.09 ± 1.8) and feelings (15.67 ± 1.17).Conclusion: Higher maternal confidence was related to knowledge and task subgroups and the feeling subgroup had the lowest score.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Resmiye Özdilek ◽  
Yılda Arzu Aba ◽  
Sena Dilek Aksoy ◽  
Bulat Aytek Şık ◽  
Yaşam Kemal Akpak

Objective: To investigate the adaptation of pregnant women to the recommended weight gain range according to body mass index (BMI) and to determine the factors affecting them. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in a university hospital’s obstetrics and gynecology unit (tertiary center) in Turkey. This study was conducted between March 2018 and August 2018 (6 months) in pregnant women. Pregnant women with chronic disease and receiving treatment during antenatal follow-up, with twin pregnancy, with a fetus with a congenital abnormality, and nutritional disturbance were excluded from the study. Eight hundred twelve pregnant women with normal antenatal follow-up and who volunteered to participate were included in the study. Results: The mean age of the participants was 27.66±5.05 years. The mean weight and BMI before pregnancy were near standard in all participants. The group with the highest rate of recommended weight gain according to BMI before pregnancy was the group with low weight pregnant women. The ideal weight gain rate in all groups was 32%. Conclusions: The groups with overweight and obese pregnant women according to BMI before pregnancy had the highest rates of weight gain, above the recommended limits. BMI before pregnancy directly affects weight gain during pregnancy and the importance of pre-pregnancy counseling and weight loss is emphasized once again. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.133 How to cite this:Ozdilek R, Aba YA, Aksoy SD, Sik BA, Akpak YK. The relationship between body mass index before pregnancy and the amount of weight that should be gained during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(5):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.133 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (suppl 5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivyna Pires Gadelha ◽  
Priscila de Souza Aquino ◽  
Marianne Maia Dutra Balsells ◽  
Flaviane Fabrício Diniz ◽  
Ana Karina Bezerra Pinheiro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the quality of life of high-risk pregnant women. Methods: an observational and cross-sectional study, carried out in a tertiary maternity hospital located in Fortaleza, with 276 high-risk pregnant women. A questionnaire was applied containing socioddemographic, clinical and obstetric data and The Mother-Generated Index. Descriptive analyzes were performed using the Jamovi statistical program®, version 0.9. Results: most areas were negatively influenced by pregnancy. “Satisfaction with pregnancy”, “family relationship” and “relationship with the partner” obtained the highest means of primary score, while “physical condition/disposition” and “financing” obtained the lowest means. The highest secondary scores were in “satisfaction with pregnancy”, “family relationship” and “relationship with the partner”, while the lowest were in “financing” and “psychological/emotional”. Conclusion: the total primary score mean was 6.03, suggesting a good quality of life. The Mother Generated Index made it possible to identify aspects of life that go beyond pre-formulated assessments of the construct.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 239-244
Author(s):  
Abah MG ◽  
Umoh AV

Background: Aversion towards Caesarean section and its outright rejection by parturient have been widely reported in Nigeria. Objective: This study was conducted with the objective of assessing the perception and attitude towards Caesarean section by pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a Niger Delta tertiary facility. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study involving 500 women interviewed using selfadministered semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaires with open and close ended questions. Their socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, perception and attitude towards Caesarean section were inquired Results: The mean age of the women was 29.1years


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-92
Author(s):  
Ermioni Tsarna ◽  
Ioanna Mavrommati ◽  
Grigorios Bogdanis ◽  
Olga Triantafillidou ◽  
George Paltoglou ◽  
...  

Introduction: Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy is regarded safe and beneficial in absence of pregnancy complications. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to describe physical activity of pregnant women in Greece and explore if it changes during pregnancy compared to the period before pregnancy. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in a private maternity hospital. Women were asked to fill in an adapted questionnaire based on Pregnant Physical Activity Questionnaire; birth outcomes and anthropometric measurements of the neonate were collected by the research midwife. Results: In our study population of 193 pregnant women, approximately half reported no or minimal physical activity during pregnancy and were less active than current guidelines’ recommendations. Gynaecologist’s opinion regarding exercise during pregnancy was conceived as positive only by a minority of women. Overall, women were less active during pregnancy than before, although they spent more time slowly walking for fun or exercise. Lastly, significant decrease was observed in all occupational activities involving slow or quick walking and lifting weights. Conclusions: These results indicate that systematic counselling of pregnant women regarding physical activity and exercise during pregnancy will be needed to achieve optimal physical activity levels for the majority of women in Greece.


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