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Background: Hyperglycemia in pregnancy is a medical condition resulting from either pre-existing diabetes or
insulin resistance developed during pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hyperglycemia in
pregnancy and influence of body fat percentage and other determinants on developing hyperglycemia in
pregnancy among women in Arusha District, Tanzania.
Methods: A cross–sectional study was conducted between March and December 2018 at selected health facilities
in Arusha District involving 468 pregnant women who were not known to have diabetes before pregnancy. Blood
glucose was tested by Gluco-Plus™ using the World Health Organization criteria at fasting and 2 h after consuming
75 g of glucose dissolved in 300 ml of water. Body fat was measured using a bioelectric impedance analyzer, midupper arm circumference using a regulated tape, weight using SECA™, blood pressure using a GT-868UF
Geratherm™ machine, and height using a stadiometer. Demographic and maternal characteristics were collected
through face to face interviews using a structured questionnaire.
Results: The participants’ mean age was 28 years (SD ± 6), mid-upper arm circumference 27 cm (SD ± 3.7), body fat
33.72% (SD ± 7.2) and pre-pregnancy body mass index 25.6 kg/m2 (SD ± 5.5). One-third of participants had midupper arm circumferences ≥28 cm with 25% being overweight and 22.7% obese before pregnancy. Prevalence of
hyperglycemia in pregnancy was 16.2% (n = 76) of which 13% had gestational diabetes and 3.2% diabetes in
pregnancy. Hyperglycemia in pregnancy was significantly associated with body fat percentage (AOR 1.33; 95% CI:
1.22–1.44), family history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (AOR 6.95, 95% CI: 3.11–15.55), previous delivery of babies ≥4
kg (AOR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.00–5.28), mid-upper arm circumference ≥ 28 cm (AOR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.09–1.32), and Type 2
diabetes mellitus symptoms (AOR 2.83, 95% CI: 1.53–6.92).
Conclusion: The prevalence of hyperglycemia in pregnancy was high, particularly among women with history of
delivering ≥4-kg babies, increased body fat, mid-upper arm circumference, symptoms and/or family history of Type
2 diabetes mellitus. These findings identify opportunities to further explore the utility of body fat percentage and
other determinants for rapid screening and management of hyperglycemia in pregnancy |
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