Patterns and Risk Factors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Mothers Who Visited Antenatal Clinics in Public Health Centers of Mekelle City, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2015

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with significant morbidity in the short and longterm, for both mother and offspring. It is now well established that women with a history of GDM are at a significant increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes, later in life. There were limited studies conducted on pattern and risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus in Tigray region. The aim of this study is to assess patterns and risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus among mothers who visited antenatal clinics in public health centers of Mekelle city, Tigray, Ethiopia in 2015. An institution based unmatched case control and cross-sectional study design was employed. Case to control ratio was 1:3 and the total number of cases and controls were 40 and 119 respectively. Systematic random sampling and consecutive sampling technique was used to select study subjects for both, case control and cross-sectional studies respectively. The data first was cleaned, edited, coded and entered into computer and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions was done for association, the test of odd ratio was using 95% confidence interval and P-value <0.02. In this study, the pattern of GDM was irregular among the three health centers. In Kasech health center, it varied from 27 to 10 then 23, in Mekelle, from 11 to 8 then 27 and in Semen health center, from 19 to 7 then 3, over the period of three years. The risk factors of GDM identified were rural residence (AOR=0.02, 95% CI; 0.001–0.737), having no still birth (AOR=0.03, 95% CI; 0.001–0.937), not taking sweet diet (AOR=0.06, 95% CI; 0.005–0.616), alcohol use (AOR=392.98, 95% CI; 11.514–13,410), doing regular exercise (AOR=0.02, 95% CI; 0.002–0.288) and having advised on danger sign of GDM (AOR=71.87, 95% CI; 3.890– 1,328) that all were significantly associated with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. It was concluded from the study that urban residence, having still birth, doing regular exercise at 18–22 weeks of pregnancy, counseling on dangers signs of GDM were the determinant factors for gestational diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this finding suggests that community mobilization, advice on danger sign and regular exercise on GDM in the antenatal clinic is the essential recommendations. Keywords: GDM, pattern, risk factors, women, Ethiopia Cite this Article : Tsegalem Hailemariam Ballo, Getachew Tesfaye Belayneh. Patterns and Risk Factors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Mothers who Visited Antenatal Clinics in Public Health Centers of Mekelle City, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2015. Research and Reviews: Journal of Surgery. 2016; 5(2): 12–20p.