Influence Of Life Style Behaviors On Birth Outcomes Among Post Delivery Women With Hypertensive Disorders In Pregnancy In Zanzibar: A Cross Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Life styles during a pregnancy have long term effects on maternal and fetal outcomes. This study intended to assess life style behaviors and birth outcomes among post-delivery women with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy in Zanzibar.

Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study design was employed; purposeful and convenience sampling was used to select 301post-delivery women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic, life styles and birth outcomes. Analysis was done by using Statistical Package of Social Science SPSS version23. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to for analysis.

Results: A total of 301 of respondents were studied, majority were lived from the rural area 152(52.2%) with the mean age of 28.59 and SD (6.709). Most participants had inadequate dietary intake 177(58.8%) and majority did moderate activities during pregnancies 157 (52.2%) and about 3 (1%) of pregnancy had taken alcohol. A total of 55 (18.3 %) smoked tobacco during pregnancy and 86 (28.6%) were passive smokers. 85(28.2%).Birth outcome indicated in the study was cesarean section81(29.9%), preterm birth81(29.9%),low birth weight were 121(40.2%), low Apgar score 81 (26.9%) and still birth 16(5.3%).After adjusting for confounders study shown that there were an association between the passive smokers and Apgar score(AOR 2.011, 95% CI: 1.161-3.481), preterm birth (AOR 3.344, 95% CI: 1.862-6.004), birth weight (AOR 3.72, 95% CI: 2.162-6.580). Also had an association between moderate activities and mode of delivery (AOR 5.014, 95% CI: 2.691-9.340).

CONCLUSIONS:

Exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy results into low birth weight, preterm labour as well low apgar score of the baby. Therefore, attention and teaching intervention are essential to promote healthy life style during pregnancy. Also physical activities in hypertensive pregnant women reduce risk of cesarean sections.