Abstract:
Background: Diabetes is the most common medical complication of pregnancy. Despite
improved access and quality of antenatal care, women with pre-gestational diabetes and their
fetuses are at increased risk of developing serious complications compared with the non-diabetic
pregnant women, including spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, hypertensive disorders, and
delivery by cesarean section. Preconception care is a key to prevent associated fetal and
maternal morbidity and mortality. However the practice of preconception care is almost nonexistent in developing countries and not studied in Jimma University Specialized Hospital.
Objective: To determine the status of preconception care and knowledge on the effect of diabetes
on pregnancy among diabetic reproductive age group women attending the diabetic clinic of
Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on all women of reproductive age attending
the diabetic clinic of Jimma University Specialized Hospital, from Sep 1- Nov 31, 2014. Data
were collected by trained two nurses and two medical interns using semi structured interviewer
administered questionnaire and document review check list. Data were cleaned, edited, coded
and entered to and analyzed by SPSS version 20.0. Bi-Variate and Multi variable binary logistic
regression analysis was carried out to identify the independent factors for knowledge on the effect
of diabetes on pregnancy. Odds ratios together with their 95%CI were used to show the
magnitude and significance of the associations.
Result: Of the 122 respondents, 50% were diagnosed to have type 1 DM, and the other half type
2 DM. Majority 83(68%) were in the age group of 35-49 years with mean (±SD) of 35.8±7.4.The
mean duration of diagnosis of diabetes was 5.7± 4 years. Average recent glycemic level (FBS)
was 168.4 ±59.6 gm/dl. Less than half (47.5%) of the respondents had received information about
preconception care and counseling. About a third (34.4%) had good care information on
preconception care and 32.8% had good knowledge level on the effects of diabetes on pregnancy.
Conclusions: the status of preconception care information provision and knowledge level on the
effects of diabetes on pregnancy were low. Promoting knowledge of diabetic women on maternal
and fetal risks and preconception care and integration of preconception care information
provision to diabetic educations are recommended. Health professionals should give emphasis to
information provision and establishment of joint clinics
