An awareness and experiences of pregnant women towards antenatal weight management at maternity hospital, Najran city, KSA
European Food Chemistry & Eating Disorder Congress
July 26-27, 2018 | Amsterdam, Netherlands

Nasser Alqahtani

Najran University, Saudi Arabia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Techno

Abstract:

Objective: This study was to evaluate pregnant women awareness and experiences towards the management of obesity and weight gain during pregnancy. Method: This was a cross-sectional study (n=416) conducted over three months in 2017 of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at a maternity hospital, Najran city, KSA. An interviewer administered, questionnaire was used. Results: Results were shown as 58.7% of participants (n=244) had low awareness for management of obesity and weight gain during pregnancy, with the highest level of awareness regarding management objectives and strategies (77.2%), while the lowest level of awareness folic acid (44%). In addition, 90.4% (n=376) showed poor experience in counseling about obesity management in pregnancy. Four risk factors were shown to be important indicators of awareness and experience of participants with largest being an occupation (adjusted OR=2.7, p=0.001); nationality (adjusted OR=2.4, p=0.015); regular follow up (adjusted OR=1.7, p=0.049) and education level (adjusted OR=1.3, p=0.009). Conclusions: Study findings are indicating that low level of awareness for management of bodyweight during pregnancy in addition to bad experience in counseling about recommended guidelines; for that may explain up to some extent why women are not being served appropriately regarding body weight.

Biography :

Nasser Alqahtani has completed his graduation from Medical School of King Khalid University, KSA as Medical Doctor. Later, he obtained his Post-graduation from Saudi Board and Arab Board of Family Medicine and then started working at Ministry of Health as Clinician and Trainer in Post-graduate Board of Family Medicine. Presently, he is working at University of Najran as the Head of Department of Family and Community Medicine in Medical College.

E-mail: drnasser1000@hotmail.com