Shub Alexis, Huning Emily Y-S, Campbell Karen J, McCarthy Elizabeth A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Perinatal Centre, 3rd Floor, Mercy Hospital for Women, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3078, Australia.
BMC Res Notes. 2013 Jul 18;6:278. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-6-278.
Obesity is increasingly common in the obstetric population. Maternal obesity and excess gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with increased perinatal risk. There is limited published data demonstrating the level of pregnant women's knowledge regarding these problems, their consequences and management strategies.We aimed to assess the level of knowledge of pregnant women regarding: (i) their own weight and body mass index (BMI) category, (ii) awareness of guidelines for GWG, (iii) concordance of women's own expectations with guidelines, (iv) knowledge of complications associated with excess GWG, and (v) knowledge of safe weight management strategies in pregnancy.
364 pregnant women from a single center university hospital antenatal clinic were interviewed by an obstetric registrar. The women in this convenience sample were asked to identify their weight category, their understanding of the complications of obesity and excessive GWG in pregnancy and safe and/or effective weight management strategies in pregnancy.
Nearly half (47.8%) of the study population were overweight or obese. 74% of obese women underestimated their BMI category. 64% of obese women and 40% of overweight women overestimated their recommended GWG. Women's knowledge of the specific risks associated with excess GWG or maternal obesity was poor. Women also reported many incorrect beliefs about safe weight management in pregnancy.
Many pregnant women have poor knowledge about obesity, GWG, their consequences and management strategies. Bridging this knowledge gap is an important step towards improving perinatal outcomes for all pregnant women, especially those who enter pregnancy overweight or obese.
肥胖在产科人群中日益普遍。孕妇肥胖和孕期体重过度增加（GWG）与围产期风险增加相关。关于孕妇对这些问题、其后果及管理策略的了解程度，已发表的数据有限。我们旨在评估孕妇在以下方面的了解程度：（i）自身体重及体重指数（BMI）类别；（ii）对GWG指南的知晓情况；（iii）女性自身期望与指南的一致性；（iv）与GWG过多相关并发症的知识；（v）孕期安全体重管理策略的知识。
来自一所单中心大学医院产前门诊的364名孕妇接受了产科住院医师的访谈。在这个便利样本中的女性被要求确定自己的体重类别，以及她们对孕期肥胖和GWG过多的并发症以及孕期安全和/或有效的体重管理策略的理解。
近一半（47.8%）的研究人群超重或肥胖。74%的肥胖女性低估了自己的BMI类别。64%的肥胖女性和40%的超重女性高估了她们建议的GWG。女性对与GWG过多或孕妇肥胖相关的具体风险了解不足。女性还报告了许多关于孕期安全体重管理的错误观念。
许多孕妇对肥胖、GWG、其后果及管理策略了解不足。弥合这一知识差距是改善所有孕妇围产期结局的重要一步，尤其是那些怀孕时超重或肥胖的孕妇。
