Effect of obesity on pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum among Moroccan women

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity among Moroccan adults is continually growing affecting one in three adults from which 63.1% are women. Obesity during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal and fetal complications. The conditions of delivery are also more difficult. Objective: we aimed to describe the complications of obesity occurring in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum among obese women in Morocco. Material and methods: It is a cross-sectional study conducted, in 2017, in two Hospital maternities in Marrakech. A sample of 200 women, who had just given birth, and have a Body Mass Index more than 30 was recruited. Women sociodemographic conditions and data about complications occurring during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, were collected meaning a structured interview and from participants' birth records. We used The SPSS software to realize descriptive analysis of data. Results: we noticed more than 37% of severe obesity and morbid obesity among participants. Several complications were noticed. Gestational diabetes occurs first (23%), followed by preeclampsia (14%). More than 38% of women gave birth by cesarean section. Almost 33% of participants had postpartum complications, the most common being infection (13%) and hemorrhage (12%). Conclusion: the high incidence of complications in obese women during pregnancy, childbirth and post partum emphasizes the need of a women nutritional management in preconception and during pregnancy to minimize complications.