COMPARING GESTATIONAL WEIGHT GAIN AND PREGNANCY OUTCOMES USING WESTERN
AND ASIA-PACIFIC BODY MASS INDEX
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate gestational weight gain (according to the
Institute of Medicine recommendation) and pregnancy outcomes by
comparing the Western and Asia-Pacific Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index.
Design: A retrospective study. Setting: Maternal and Child Health
Clinics in Brunei. Population or Sample: Health medical records of
mothers. Methods: Demographic factors, pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index,
gestational weight gain, and maternal and neonatal outcomes were
retrieved. Univariate analyses were applied. Main outcome measures:
Maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: 170 records were extracted.
Adverse neonatal outcomes (p=0.036) were detected when gestational
weight gain was evaluated using the Asia-Pacific pre-pregnancy Body Mass
Index as compared to that of the Western (p=0.440). The prevalence of
obese women was significantly higher (95%CI: 36.0, 51.3) compared to
(95%CI: 11.4, 23.1)(p<0.001). The gestational weight gain
above the recommended guideline was also significantly higher (95%CI:
71.1, 84.0) compared to (95%CI: 60.6, 75.0) (p<0.001).
Conclusions: Evaluating gestational weight gain using the Asia-Pacific
pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and the Institute of Medicine guidelines
was significant in detecting adverse neonatal outcomes and prevalence of
obesity in the Asian pregnant women population in Brunei. This
retrospective study served as a platform for more rigorous study on
larger population.