Author(s)

Dobgima Walter Pisoh^1*, Ngek Edwin Foinsok¹, Loveline Lum Niba², Tameh Theodore¹, Achuo Ascensius Mforteh¹, Boten Bouyom Pierre Merlin¹, Takang William Ako¹, Dohbit Sama Julius³

¹Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon.
²Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon.
³Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Introduction: Obesity is one of the most common problems of reproductive age women and has been associated with diverse adverse pregnancy outcomes. Its prevalence in pregnancy is estimated at 14% in Cameroon. Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine the adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with obesity in the Regional Hospital Bamenda. Methodology: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. We recruited 283 participants and their BMIs were used to classify them as underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5 - 24.9), overweight (25 - 29.9) and obese (≥30). Ethical clearance, administrative authorisation and consent of participants were obtained. Data was collected using a pretested questionnaire. We collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric characteristics, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel version 2010. Fisher’s test was used to determine relative risk on bivariate logistic regression. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Most participants were in the age group 20 - 34 years, and were multigravida and multipara. The prevalence of maternal obesity was 31.4%. Obesity was associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders [RR: 7.7, 95% CI (2.13 - 42.39), p = 0.0003], caesarean section [RR: 2.9, 95% CI (1.11 - 4.01), p = 0.017] and macrosomia [RR: 7.3, 95% CI (3.03 - 19.61), p < 0.0001]. Conclusion: Maternal obesity is associated with hypertensive disorders, caesarean section and macrosomia.

Maternal, Obesity, Pregnancy, Outcome

Pisoh, D. , Foinsok, N. , Niba, L. , Theodore, T. , Mforteh, A. , Merlin, B. , Ako, T. and Julius, D. (2023) Prevalence and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Associated with Maternal Obesity in the Bamenda Regional Hospital. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 13, 712-727. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2023.134060.