Effect of maternal Helicobacter Pylori infection on birth weight in an urban community in Uganda
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC pregnancy and childbirth
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori, a widespread infection particularly in developing countries has been associated
with many adverse effects during pregnancy including hyperemesis gravidarum, neural tube defects in newborns,
intrauterine fetal growth restriction and miscarriage. We sought to document the effects of H. pylori infection on
birth weight in a low-income setting in Kampala, Uganda.
Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted in Kampala between May 2012 and May 2013. The
participants were H. pylori positive and H. pylori negative HIV negative primigravidae and secundigravidae.
Recruitment was at ≤18 gestation weeks and follow up assessments were carried out at 26 and 36 gestation
weeks and soon after delivery. H. pylori infection was determined using H. pylori stool antigen test. Maternal
weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain were calculated.
Only term and live babies were considered. Low birth weight (LBW) was defined as a birth weight of <2500 gram.
Results: A total of 221 participants were enrolled with mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 20.9 ± 2.7 years.
The mean ± SD gestation age at delivery was 39.4 ± 1.0 weeks. Primigravidae were 61.5 % (n = 188) and 52.9 %
(n=117) of the participants were positive for H. pylori infection. Low pre-pregnancy BMI (<18.5 kg/m2) was
recorded in 14.6 % (n = 28) while 38 % (n = 73) had a height <156 cm at recruitment. Of the infants born to the
participants, 13.6 % (n = 26) had low birth weight (<2500 gram).
Independent predictors for LBW were the mother being positive for H. pylori infection (odds ratio, OR, 3.6, 95 %
CI 1.1 – 11.5; P = 0.031) maternal height at recruitment <156 cm (OR 3.4, 95 % CI 1.4–8.2; P = 0.008) and maternal
weight gain rates <0.3 kg/week during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters (OR 3.8, 95 % CI 1.0–14.1; P = 0.044).
Conclusion: H. pylori infection is associated with LBW among primigravidae and secundigravidae in Kampala, Uganda.
Description
Keywords
H. pylori infection, Pregnancy, Birth weight, Gestation weight gain
Citation
Wanyama, R., Kagawa, M. N., Opio, K. C., & Baingana, R. K. (2016). Effect of maternal Helicobacter Pylori infection on birth weight in an urban community in Uganda. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 16, 1-8. DOI 10.1186/s12884-016-0950-8