Epidemiology of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) among mothers in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates

The association between blood groups, Rhesus factors, body mass index and obesity among pregnant women at Gadarif Maternity Hospital, Eastern Sudan

BACKGROUND

The existing evidence regarding the link between blood groups and obesity remains inconclusive, and there is a noticeable lack of data on the potential association between blood groups and obesity during pregnancy. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the association between blood groups, body mass index (BMI), and obesity among pregnant women receiving care at Gadarif Maternity Hospital in eastern Sudan.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in eastern Sudan during the period from April to September 2022. A questionnaire was employed to gather sociodemographic information from pregnant women. BMI was computed based on weight and height. Blood groups determinations were made using the agglutination method which is commonly used in the study's region. Multinominal and multiple linear regression analyses were performed, and adjusted for covariates in the regression models.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and thirty-three pregnant women were enrolled with a median (interquartile range, IQR) gestational age of 10.0 (9.3‒11.0) weeks. The median (IQR) BMI of the women was 26.3(24.2‒29.4) kg/m2. Of these women, 11(1.3%) were underweight, 268(32.2%) were of normal weight, 371(44.5%) were overweight, and 183(22.0%) were obese. One hundred eighty-three (22.0%) women had blood group A, 107 (12.8%) had blood group B, 56 (6.7%) had blood group AB, and 487(58.5%) had blood group O. While 798 (95.8%) of the women were Rhesus factor positive, only 35 (4.2%) were Rhesus factor negative. Multinominal regression showed that only urban residency (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 2.46, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.47‒4.13) was associated with overweight. Blood groups and Rhesus factors were not associated with overweight. Age (AOR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01‒1.11), urban residence (AOR = 2.46, 95%, CI = 1.47‒4.13), and blood group O (AOR = 1.60, 95%, CI = 1.06‒2.40), were associated with obesity. Rhesus factors were not associated with obesity. In the multiple linear regression, age (coefficient = 0.07, P = 0.028), gravidity (coefficient = 0.25, P = 0.014), urban residence (coefficient = 1.33, P = 0.001), and blood group O (coefficient = 0.68, P = 0.035) were associated with BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood group O was associated with obesity and high BMI among pregnant women in eastern Sudan. Rhesus factors were not associated with obesity.

Prevalence and Sociodemographic Profiles of Grand Multipara in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The literature shows that grand multipara mothers are major contributors to poor maternal and perinatal health compared to multipara mothers. Data regarding parity profiles are essential, especially in rapidly transforming countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with multipara mothers compared to multipara mothers in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The data were collected from seven health care centers located in Abu Dhabi.From1818 enrolled mothers, the prevalence of grand multipara was 135(7.4%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 7.2, 7.6). In logistic regression analysis, factors associated positively with grand multipara were a higher maternal age (Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR) = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.21, 1.34), Arab mothers (AOR = 5.66, 95% CI 2.81, 11.40), overweight pre-pregnancy (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.26, 3.21), and limited family support for breastfeeding (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.21, 3.50). The prevalence of grand multipara was low compared to previous researching the UAE. Sociodemographic factors were more prominent and associated with grand multipara mothers compared to obstetrical ones. Therefore, more programs (nutritional, physical activities, and psychosocial) are needed to improve maternal and perinatal health to support grand multipara mothers. Further, research is required to explore the difference in parity based on nationalities, especially from a sociocultural point of view.