Prevalence of Periconception Risk Factors for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in a Cohort of Urban Indian Women: Implications for Preconception Health Education

Abstract

Citation: Gund P, Bhide P, Kar A (2016) AbstractObjective: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of selected periconception (pre-and early-post conception) risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes among urban Indian women, in order to identify the targets of a preconception education programme.Methods: Data on selected risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes was collected through face to face interview of 2107 pregnant women. Odds ratios (OR) were computed in order to identify the characteristics of women with higher numbers of risk factors. Results:The most prevalent risk factors were nutritional (lack of preconception folic acid supplement use 99.7%, anaemia 61% and malnutrition 41%), followed by social factors (low education levels 62%, low socioeconomic status 68%). There was high prevalence of chemical exposures in the household environment (household cleaners 76%, use of indoor insect repellents 64%). Women from families below the poverty line (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.6) and with low education levels (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.6) were more likely to report five or more risk factors. Conclusions:The high prevalence of risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes identifies the need for health promotion messages targeted at women in the preconception period with emphasis on pre pregnancy nutrition, and on limiting risk exposures within the household environment. The study identified a need to specially focus on poorly educated women from families below the poverty line.

Prevalence of Preconception Risk Factors Among Women From Tribal and Non-tribal Blocks in Nashik District, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Consanguinity: Only two studies considered consanguineous marriage as a risk factor and prevalence was 2.9 and 20% [11,18]. In a study in North Karnataka, India 26.9% of women had a history of consanguineous marriage, while the current study reported it to be 19%.…”

“…Illiteracy can be seen as a social health risk for the women, it was reported more in tribal than nontribal women (p<0.001). The other two studies also considered lower education as a risk factor [10,11].…”

“…Many studies present nutrition or chronic non-communicable diseases aspects of the women, while many are retrospective interviews of pregnant women or delivered women. Most of the reported studies are hospital-based, with emphasis on the effectiveness of preconception care, management of chronic diseases, diabetes control and folic acid supplementation [9][10][11]. Similarly, many of the reports are analysis of system-generated data.…”

Prevalence of Congenital Anomalies in an Indian Maternal Cohort: Healthcare, Prevention, and Surveillance Implications

“…The characteristics of the pregnancy cohort have been described previously [24]. There was a 9% loss to follow up as these women did not access services at the registered hospital, and could not be further contacted.…”

“…A recent study has reported the high prevalence of periconception risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes including birth defects among urban Indian women, especially those who were poorly educated and from low socioeconomic backgrounds [24]. In such a scenario, preconception interventions take on a very important role in the prevention of birth defects.…”