Factors associated with knowledge of personal gestational weight gain recommendations.
OBJECTIVE
Excess adiposity (obesity and excess gestational weight gain, GWG) during pregnancy (EADP) increases risk for gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and child and maternal obesity. Personal GWG goals predict total GWG. Some estimates suggest only 30% of pregnant women have personal GWG goals that are congruent with Institute of Medicine GWG recommendations. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which perceived pre-pregnancy weight status, healthcare provider advice, knowledge of EADP risks, and value for healthy GWG predicted knowledge of GWG recommendations. The secondary purpose was to determine sources of GWG information among pregnant women.


METHODS
Pregnant women with a confirmed singleton pregnancy completed a one-time survey in obstetric clinic waiting rooms. Logistic regression analysis was used.


RESULTS
246 predominantly African American, low income, overweight/obese women completed surveys. Average age was 25 (SD 5.3) and gestation age ranged from 7 to 40 weeks. Knowledge of pre-pregnancy weight status was the only unique predictor of GWG recommendation knowledge (B = .642, p = .03). The top three sources of GWG information were physicians, internet, and books. The least frequently reported sources of GWG information were other healthcare providers, community programs, and television.


CONCLUSIONS
In low income diverse overweight/obese pregnant women, accurate pre-pregnancy weight status perception was the only significant unique predictor of knowledge of GWG recommendations. Physicians were the preferred source of GWG information. Clinicians should have frequent, ongoing conversations about weight status with women before, during, and after pregnancy.
University of Houston, 3855 Holman Street, Garrison Gym Rm 104, Houston, TX, 77204-6015, USA. TALedoux@uh.edu.
Tracey
T
Ledoux
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 300 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-0587, USA. pavanden@utmb.edu.
Patricia
P
Van Den Berg
University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, Houston, TX, 77204-4013, USA. pleung@uh.edu.
Patrick
P
Leung
University of Texas Health Sciences Center, 6431 Fannin St. Suite 3.116, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. Pamela.D.Berens@uth.tmc.edu.
Pamela D
PD
Berens
D050154:Adiposity; D001741:Black or African American; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D011203:Poverty; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D064186:Prenatal Education; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires