Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in urban and rural Tanzania

Akwilina W Mwanri; Joyce Kinabo; Kaushik Ramaiya; Edith J M Feskens

doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2013.11.021

Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in urban and rural Tanzania

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2014 Jan;103(1):71-8. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2013.11.021. Epub 2013 Dec 4.

Authors

Akwilina W Mwanri¹, Joyce Kinabo², Kaushik Ramaiya³, Edith J M Feskens⁴

Affiliations

¹ Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands; Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, P.O. Box 3006, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania. Electronic address: akwmwanri@hotmail.com.
² Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands.
³ Hindu Mandal Hospital, P.O. Box 11571, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
⁴ Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, P.O. Box 3006, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania.

PMID: 24367971
DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2013.11.021

Abstract

Aim: To estimate prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and associated determinants in urban and rural Tanzania.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2011 through 2012 in selected urban and rural communities. Pregnant women (609 urban, 301 rural), who were not previously known to have diabetes, participated during usual ante-natal clinic visits. Capillary blood samples were collected at fasting and 2h after 75 g glucose load and were measured using HemoCue. Diagnosis of GDM was made using 1999 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.

Results: Women in rural areas were younger (26.6 years) than in urban areas (27.5 years). Mean gestational age, height, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were similar for the two areas. Overall prevalence of GDM averaged 5.9%, with 8.4% in urban area and 1.0% in rural area. Prevalence of GDM was higher for women who had a previous stillbirth (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.5-5.4), family history of type 2 diabetes (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.2), and MUAC above 28 cm (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.3), and lower for women with normal hemoglobin compared with anemia (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.22-0.93).

Conclusions: Prevalence of GDM is higher than expected in urban areas in Tanzania, indicating an increasing population who are at risk for delivery complications and type 2 diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: Gestational diabetes; Prevalence; Tanzania.

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes, Gestational / epidemiology*
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Life Style
Pregnancy
Prevalence
Rural Population / statistics & numerical data*
Tanzania / epidemiology
Urban Population / statistics & numerical data*
World Health Organization