Reproductive performance following active management of diabetic pregnancies at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This article presents a report of the first 5 years of an active approach to the management of diabetic pregnancies at the University College Hospital. Ibadan. During this period the incidence rate of diabetic pregnancy was 0.64 per 1000 deliveries per year. The mean birthweight (3.40 ± 1.68 kg) of babies whose mothers had good diabetic control was lower than the mean birthweight (4.19 ± 1.05 kg) of babies born to mothers with poorly-controlled diabetes. The difference was however not statistically significant (P < 0.5). Whilst the overall perinatal mortality rate was 10.8%, there was a statistically significant difference in the perinatal mortality associated with poor control of diabetes (42.9%) when compared with good control (0.0%): P < 0.02. The authors conclude that earlier booking in pregnancy, stricter control of diabetes by multiple insulin injections and improved cooperation of the patients will in future help to lower the perinatal mortality rate associated with diabetic pregnancy.