Knowledge of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in North West, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common medical complications of pregnancy. It is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus exhibit high blood glucose levels during pregnancy. Hyperglycemia in pregnancy results in both maternal and fetal complications. The prevalence is rising worldwide, however there is poor knowledge of the condition among pregnant women.

Objective The study aimed to determine the knowledge of GDM among women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) BirninKebbi.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out among 130 women attending ANC at FTH, BirninKebbi. An interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain the bio-data and other relevant information which were imputed into an SPSS computer statistical software version 20 and analyzed.

Results The mean age of study participants was 27.4±4.5 years. Awareness of DM was high (90%), while that of GDM was low 41%. The major sources of information were friends/ neighbors (35%). However, only 18.5% of the respondents had overall good knowledge for GDM. Some of them were aware of commonest risk factors for GDM such as family history of type 2 DM (53.8%) and obesity (43.8%) Majority, 71.5%, were aware of fasting blood sugar  as diagnostic test. However only 18.5% of the respondents were aware of the appropriate gestational age for the screening of GDM.

Conclusion: From the study there is poor knowledge of GDM. Hence, more public enlightenment programs are needed to improve awareness among the populace and to encourage regular screening at the ANC.