Frequency of Neonatal Hypocalcemia among Diabetic Mothers

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of neonatal hypocalcemia among mothers presented with glucose impairment. Subject and Method: This was a cross-sectional study and was done at department of OBS and Gynaecology of PNS SHIFA Karachi. Study was conducted during six months from December 2010 to June 2011. This study comprised all the known diabetes mothers aged more than 18 years presented at PNS SHIFA Hospital and underwent child birth of either mode of delivery and parity. Females were monitored until they gave birth. A 5ml blood sample was taken from each mother to assess the current value of fasting blood sugar levels. To assess the neonatal calcium level 2cc blood samples were obtained under aseptic conditions after 24 hours of the births and the serum calcium level below 7mg/ dl was considered as hypocalcemia. All the data was collected via self-made study proforma. SPSS version 26 was used the purpose of data analysis. Results: Total 150 diabetes mothers were studied. The average maternal age was 30.23±3.55 years and gestational ag was 37.11±3.22 weeks. Most of the females were multiparous 54.0% and majority of the cases underwent c-sections 93(62.0%). Neonatal hypocalcemia was 20.7% Frequency of the newborn hypocalcemia was higher in age group of 21-30 years (p-0.082), while it was also insignificant according to gestational age (p-0. 172). Conclusion: According to the study's findings, the newborn hypocalcemia was observed to be the 20.7% in diabetes mothers. According to maternal age, it was determined to be statistically significant. Key words: Pregnancy, diabetes, neonatal calcium level