Correlation between Maternal Body Mass Index in Pregnancy and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes

Background: Obesity and underweight among pregnant women is presenting a high threat to maternal and fetal health. This research examines the relationships between the maternal body mass index (BMI) and negative perinatal outcomes at the two levels of normal (18.524.9/kg) and high (30 and above) BMI.

Methods: There were 290 women (145 in both groups) collected from Iraq who where assessed in a cross-sectional study. Data collected and analyzed were demographic data, maternal complications, delivery outcomes, and neonatal outcomes. Statistical tests that were done are chi-square and odds ratios to establish relationships between BMI categories and perinatal outcomes.

Findings: There was a significant association between high BMI and high gestational diabetes rates (22.1% vs. 5.5% p<0.001), preeclampsia rates (16.6 vs. 4.8% p<0.001), and gestational hypertension rates (13.1 vs. 3.4% p=0.002)

Neonates with mothers who had high BMI had greater macrosomia (15.2 0.002 -1.5) and NICU hospitalization (22.1 0.01 -1.5).

Conclusion: Maternal obesity is linked to high rates of adverse perinatal outcomes and therefore the need to interfere by using specific interventions to control maternal weight, prenatal, and during pregnancy. These results highlight the importance of better population health programs to improve the health of both children and mothers.