ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FIRST TRIMESTER OBESITY AND SOME MATERNAL CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

Abstract Introduction. Obesity in pregnant women has substantial negative impact on both pregnancy and labor/delivery. The aim of this article was to determine first trimester obesity-frequency, and its association with some maternal history data. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 809 first trimester pregnant women were evaluated for obesity defined as BMI ≥30. The data were collected via a questionnaire. Results. BMI ≥30 had17.3% of all participants, 17.0% of them were Macedonian and 17.5% Albanian. BMI ≥30 had 23.9%of those with completed primary school, 16.4% of those with completed high school, and 14.8% of those with university degree; 18.7% of those with total family income less than 350 euros, 14.9% of those with total family income between 350-700 euros, and 14.8% of those with total family income above 700 euros. BMI ≥30 had 13.2% of nulliparous, and 20.6% of parous women. Among smokers, BMI ≥30 had 28.8%, but only 15.3% in nonsmokers. Regarding the IPI (interpregnancy interval), 26.2% in those with IPI ≤12 months had BMI ≥30, and 19.6% of those with IP I>12 months. Women aged40 years and over had BMI ≥30 in 40% of casesversus 16.8% of pregnant women younger than 40 years. Conclusion. Obesity showed statistically significant negative association with level of education (p=0.010), positive correlation with smoking (p=0.003), age of the mother (p=0.019) and parity (p=0.006); obesity showed negative, but statistically insignificant association with IPI and family wealth, and showed no association with nationality.