Gestational diabetes mellitus and fetal death in Mozambique: an incident case-referent study

Abstract

Background. Third trimester fetal death is a common problem in Mozambique, occurring in approximately 5% of parturient women. Objective. To elucidate the magnitude of the gestational diabetes mellitus problem, and to estimate its prevalence in a group of women with unexplained late fetal deaths and in women with live fetuses (referents). Methods. An incident case-referent study of 109 pregnant Mozambican women with fetal deaths and 110 women delivering liveborns, regarding fasting B-glucose, oral glucose tolerance test and glycosylated hemoglobin. Result. The difference in gestational diabetes mellitus prevalence in the two groups is not significant. The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus was high in both groups: 11% and 7%, respectively.