African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2756-3332 Vol. 10 (7), pp. 001-009, July, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of maternal weight gain on fetal growth in gestational diabetes

Orli Most¹* and Oded Langer²

¹Atlantic Maternal Fetal Medicine, 95 Madison Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA.

²St. Luke’s –Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, New York 10019, USA.

Accepted 21 April, 2022

Abstract

We sought to determine the impact of maternal weight gain on fetal growth in gestational diabetes (GDM) in relation to treatment modality, body mass index (BMI) and glycemic control. 2454 GDMs were evaluated. Obesity was defined as BMI >29; good glycemic control ≤ 100 mg/dl; maternal age < and >30 years; parity ±1; large for gestational age (LGA) >90^th percentile and small for gestational age (SGA) <10^th percentile. SGA rates were similar in all groups. Obese/overweight diet-treated in glycemic control showed a 4-fold higher rate of LGA compared to insulin treated women. A 36 lb. weight gain in insulin treated patients had a 6-fold higher risk. In poor glycemic control, LGA rates were higher in all BMI/weight gain categories. Logistic regressions for LGA/SGA revealed that level of glycemia, weight gain, parity, obesity and treatment (for LGA only) were significant. Different thresholds used for different maternal BMI categories in addition to the achievement of glycemic control and pharmacological therapy will enhance pregnancy outcome.

Key words: Weight gain in gestational diabetes, pre-pregnancy BMI, glycemic control, treatment modality.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2756-3332 Vol. 10 (6), pp. 001-009, June, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Evaluation of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic

Opeoluwa Oluwatoyin OLABODE, Beatrice Magboro OHAERI, Iyanuoluwa Oreofe OJO and Oluwatoyin BABARIMISA

Department of Nursing, Faculty of Clinical sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Accepted 24 May, 2022 

Introduction: The worldwide and rapid spread of the coronavirus disease due to COVID-19 poses the highest public health and economic predicament the world has faced in over a century and it affects all races, genders, and religious groups, irrespective of their economic status. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. This COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented interruption to our daily lives, changing the way we educate, the way we work and the way in which we care for the dying and eventually say goodbye to our loved ones. Objectives: This study aims to explore the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the society, identify the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on loved ones, and propose solutions to alleviate the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic in the society. Conclusion:  Attainment of public health emergency readiness and response is substantially based on the superiority and volume of information that have been accessed during the outbreak of the pandemic; Hence, it is important for nurses and other health care practitioners to understand crisis-specific core competencies in respect to providing counselling interventions and lay emphasis on structured psycho-education to empower loss and restoration-focused coping and use of support from obtainable social networks. It is also recommended that to effectively address the health, social, economic, and political influence of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, an integrated, active, and regimented public health emergency reaction is a prerequisite among leaders, governmental and non-governmental organizations to work on or develop.

Keywords: Evaluation, effects, COVID-19, pandemic, economic status, public health, infectious disease, coping, counseling, social networks.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2756-3332 Vol. 10 (5), pp. 001-006, May, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Awareness of diabetes mellitus among Saudi non-diabetic population in Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

Abdelmarouf Hassan Mohieldein*, Mohammad A. Alzohairy and Marghoob Hasan

Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 13 August, 2021

Abstract

An understanding of the level of public awareness of disease conditions is helpful for health educators to plan for future programmes. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for the very first time in the central region of Saudi Arabia; to evaluate the awareness level of diabetes mellitus among non-diabetic population. A total of 2007 Saudi citizens from all 11 provinces of Al-Qassim region were evaluated. The participants’ response rate was 91.23% and each participant was asked to answer a total of 21 questions from a pre-piloted questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done utilizing SPSS version 13.0. The mean age (±SD) and age range of the study participants were 26.6±10.2 and 15 to 68 years respectively, and the gender ratio was 1.6 male: 1.0 female. Out of the participants, 77.4% aged between 15 and 33 years. The diabetes knowledge score among the study subjects was 67.4%, whereas general knowledge regarding the disease, risk factors, symptoms and complications were 71.1, 63.4, 80.8 and 47.7% respectively. Furthermore, relatives and friends, in addition to media, were the major sources of information (73.8 and 47.1% respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that, males were nearly twice more likely to have better knowledge of disease as compared with females (OR 0.569; 95% CI 0.471 to 0.687). About two thirds of the study subjects believed that, diabetes is a curable disease. Moreover, the study revealed the serious unawareness of diabetes associated secondary complications. Only 19.1% of participants were found to have knowledge about diabetes from the healthcare professionals. This indicates that, there is need of more efforts for educating general population about diabetes and its associated secondary complications.

Key words: Awareness, knowledge, diabetes mellitus, non-diabetic, young population, Al-Qassim region.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2756-3332 Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Women and men’s perception of birth preparedness and complication readiness: a qualitative study in semi-urban communities in Nigeria

**Margaret Omowaleola AKINWAARE¹, Oyeninhun Abimbola OLUWATOSIN² and Olayinka Adekunmi ADEKOLA³

^1,2Department of Nursing, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

³Clinical Nursing Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. 

Accepted 26 January, 2022

Abstract

The prevailing trend of maternal mortality has constituted a burden to some countries across the globe, especially in developing countries. It has been empirically established that the majority of these deaths were related to inadequate birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR). This study, therefore, explored women's and men’s perceptions on BPCR. The study adopted a descriptive design using a qualitative approach. A total of 48 community men and women were engaged in focus group discussions (FGDs). The participants were purposively selected through consultation with the community leaders and primary healthcare centres in the selected communities. The perceived components of BPCR include; registration and regular antenatal clinic attendance, balanced diet, sleep and rest and having necessary laboratory investigations done. It was opined that complications could occur to pregnant women as a result of poor nutrition, lack of physical exercise as well as if the woman is involved in some house chores. It was concluded that the identified components of BPCR by the pregnant women, older women, and men in the community were at variance with the standard components by WHO. Hence, there is a need for public awareness of BPCR.

Keywords: Perception, Birth preparedness, Complication readiness, Semi-Urban, Communities Pregnant women, Nigeria.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2756-3332 Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hypoadiponectinemia: A link between visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome

Rosario Scaglione¹*, Tiziana Di Chiara¹, Christiano Argano², Salvatore Corrao¹ and Giuseppe Licata¹

¹Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Palermo, Piazza delle Cliniche 2, 90127, Palermo, Italy.

²Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Fondazione San Raffaele Giglio, Cefalù, Palermo, Italy.

Accepted 16 October, 2021

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a combination of cardio-metabolic risk factors, including visceral obesity, glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes, elevated triglycerides, reduced HDL cholesterol, and hypertension. MetS is rapidly increasing and prevalent worldwide as a consequence of the “epidemic” obesity, with a considerable impact on the global incidence of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. At present, some authors are disappointed on the role of insulin resistance as unifying factor in the occurrence of all the MetS components, whereas the role of visceral obesity is increasing. This review summarizes and critically evaluates the clinical and scientific evidence supporting the existence of MetS as a “fatal consequence of visceral obesity”. In view of this, the effects of some adipocytokines and other proinflammatory factors produced by fat accumulation on the occurrence of the MetS have been also emphasized. Accordingly, the “hypoadiponectinemia” has been proposed as the most interesting new hypothesis to explain the pathophysiology of MetS.

Key words: Metabolic syndrome, visceral obesity, adipocytokines, adiponectin, cardiovascular disease.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2756-3332 Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Maternal seafood consumption in highly educated women is reduced in pregnancy: A pilot study

Marian K. Malde, Anita R. Alvheim, Linn Anne B. Brunborg and Ingvild E. Graff

National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), Bergen, Norway.

Accepted June 11, 2021

Abstract

Oily fish is a unique natural source to vitamin D and marine n-3 fatty acids. The aim of the present study was to investigate from where pregnant women get dietary advices and whether they eat seafood during pregnancy or not. A self-selected convenience sample (n = 43) of highly educated women responded to a self-administrated web based questionnaire. The women reduced their intake of both lean (p < 0.013) and oily (p < 0.003) fish during pregnancy, indicating that the women were not fully aware of the beneficial effects of seafood intake during pregnancy.

Key words: Marine n-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), vitamin D, recommendations, omega-3 fatty acids, pregnant, seafood.