An Audit of Pre-Pregnancy Maternal Obesity and Diabetes Screening in Rural Regional Tasmania and Its Impact on Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes

Sharon P. Luccisano, Heinrich C. Weber, Giuliana O. Murfet, Iain K. Robertson, Sarah J. Prior and Andrew P. Hills
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Sharon P. Luccisano: Tasmanian Health Service—North West, Brickport Road, Burnie, TAS 7320, Australia
Heinrich C. Weber: Tasmanian Health Service—North West, Brickport Road, Burnie, TAS 7320, Australia
Giuliana O. Murfet: Tasmanian Health Service—North West, Brickport Road, Burnie, TAS 7320, Australia
Iain K. Robertson: Clifford Craig Foundation, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia
Sarah J. Prior: School of Medicine, Cradle Coast Campus, University of Tasmania, 16-20 Mooreville Road, Burnie, TAS 7320, Australia
Andrew P. Hills: School of Health Sciences, Newnham Campus, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-12

Abstract: Maternal obesity in pregnancy, a growing health problem in Australia, adversely affects both mothers and their offspring. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is similarly associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal complications. A low-risk digital medical record audit of antenatal and postnatal data of 2132 pregnant mothers who gave birth between 2016–2018 residing in rural-regional Tasmania was undertaken. An expert advisory group guided the research and informed data collection. Fifty five percent of pregnant mothers were overweight or obese, 43.6% gained above the recommended standards for gestational weight gain and 35.8% did not have an oral glucose tolerance test. The audit identified a high prevalence of obesity among pregnant women and low screening rates for gestational diabetes mellitus associated with adverse maternal and neonatal pregnancy outcomes. We conclude that there is a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among pregnant women in rural regional Tasmania. Further GDM screening rates are low, which require addressing.

Keywords: adverse maternal outcomes; gestational diabetes; gestational weight gain; obesity; obstetric complications; pregnancy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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