Prevalence and Factors Affected to Excessive Gestational Weight Gain among Pregnant Women in the Eastern part of Thailand

Abstract

This descriptive cross section study aimed to explore a prevalence of and factors affected to
excessive gestational weight gain among pregnant women in the eastern part of Thailand. Samples were
560 pregnant women attending in antenatal services ofpublic general hospitals in eastern part of Thailand.
Samples were collected by using stratified sampling and random sampling techniques. Self-administrated
questionnaires were used to collect data. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi-square,
Odds-ratio, and Binary logistic regression.
Results revealed that the prevalence of pregnant women with excessive gestational weight gain
was 35.4%. Risk factors of excessive gestational weight gain during pregnancy were over pre-pregnancy
body mass index (OR=4.27, 95%CI =), misperception of their body image (OR=2.27, 95% CI =), lack of
family support (OR=1.92, 95% CI =), history of overweight/obese/or gestational diabetes mellitus in
previous pregnancy (OR=1.65, 95% CI =), bad behavior to control weight gain during pregnancy (OR=1.53,
95% CI =), and multipara pregnancies (OR=1.51, 95% CI =). Predicting factors of excessive gestational weight
gain during pregnancy were over pre-pregnancy body mass index (Adjust OR=4.34, p 95% CI =), lack of
family support (Adjust OR=1.87, 95% CI =), and difficulty to access food sources (Adjust OR=1.84, 95% CI =)
The results suggest nurse and midwife to conduct nursing care plan for encouraging reproductive
women to control their weight before becoming to pregnant women. Further, nurse and midwife should
provide family participation antenatal care service to take care of pregnant women, particularly who have
over pre-pregnant body mass index, by managing their good eating behaviors and helping them to control
their appropriate gestational weight gain during pregnancy