Paper
Sunday, November 4, 2007
344
Perinatal Outcomes Compared in Hispanic Women with Normal and High Weight
Gayle Roux, PhD, RN, NP-C, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA and Brian Higgerson, PhD, RN, NP-C, Nursing, DePaul Univeristy, Chicago, IL, USA.
| Learning Objective #1: examine the relationship of pregravid weight, gestational weight gain, and birth outcomes among Hispanic women. |
| Learning Objective #2: discuss study findings that support the current IOM guidleines for prenatal weight gain. |
Background and Purpose. Improving perinatal outcomes is a U.S. and global health initiative. In 1990, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended ranges for prenatal weight gain with the goal of improving infant birth weight. Critics have argued the IOM recommendations are unlikely to improve perinatal outcomes and are not based on research. Literature suggests that overweight women have more complicated deliveries and poorer perinatal outcomes. There is a paucity of research in underrepresented populations and Hispanic women regarding pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between pregravid weight, gestational weight gain, and selected birth outcomes in Hispanic women. Design and Methodology. A descriptive, comparative design examining the relationship of pregravid weight, gestational weight gain, and birth outcomes among 100 normal pregravid weight women and 100 high pregravid weight women was completed. IOM guidelines for weight were used to define the groups. Prenatal and hospital delivery records of Hispanic women who delivered singletons were the data source. Multiple regression and Chi-Square analysis were done.
Results. High pregravid weight women were more likely to have gestational diabetes (p = .042), unplanned cesarean deliveries (p = .031), and forceps were used to assist deliveries (p = .04) compared to normal pregravid women. Infants of high-pregravid weight women were more likely to weigh 4000 grams or more (p = .036). A subgroup of high pregravid weight women who lost or gained no weight during pregnancy were significantly more likely to deliver small gestational age infants (p = .042) compared with high pregravid weight women who gained weight.
Implications. This study supports the current IOM recommendations. Given that Hispanic women are at risk for being overweight, proper nutrition and IOM recommended weight gain may improve perinatal outcomes. Enhancing outcomes for women and infants is a global health priority.