Frequency of Pregnant Females with Adequate Knowledge Regarding Gestational Diabetes Visiting Public and Private Sector Hospital of Lahore

Abstract

Background & Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a perfect window of opportunity for the prevention of DM in two generations, and its incidence is increasing in the world. Awareness of the condition 
among antenatal women may translate into prevention and early diagnosis of the disease. This study aims to 
assess the frequency of female with good knowledge regarding GDM during pregnancy, as only few females 
are aware of it, There is no local evidence available in this regard which could help us in determining the level 
of awareness in females belonging to local population regarding GDM. 
Methods: Overall, 230 females fulfilling the selection criteria were enrolled in the study from OPD of 
Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology of both hospitals. Informed consent was obtained. Demographic 
information (name, age, gestational age, parity, education level and socioeconomic status) was also noted. 
Then females were interviewed with researcher herself regarding their knowledge about GDM during 
pregnancy and adequate knowledge was noted (as per operational definition). All this information was 
recorded through pre-designed proforma. 
Results: In our study, out of 230 cases, mean age was calculated as 28.38+3.71 years; mean gestational age 
was 
28.84+3.38 weeks, frequency of adequate knowledge regarding gestational diabetes in pregnant females 
was recorded in 15.65%(n=36). 
Conclusion: We concluded that the frequency of pregnant females with adequate knowledge regarding 
gestational diabetes is not high and needs some emergent steps to improve it for prevention of associated 
morbidities. 
Keywords: Pregnant females, gestational diabetes mellitus, adequate knowledge