Prevalence and associated factors of fetal macrosomia in a rural community in Ghana

• Main Authors: Kweku Bedu-Addo, Richard K.D. Ephraim, Comfort Tanoe-Blay, Linda Ahenkorah-Fondjo, Kwame Osei-Darkwah, Mabel Ephraim, Kate A. Kontoh, Albert Abaka-Yawson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-01-01
• Series: Cogent Medicine
• Subjects: fetal macrosomia; maternal; rural; newborn; determinants
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2331205X.2020.1746602

Foetal macrosomia is known to contribute to various perinatal and maternal complications. Additionally, it has been proven to be a primary determinant of the survival of a newborn baby. We sought to determine the prevalence and associated factors of fetal macrosomia in Eikwe, a rural community in the Western part of Ghana. This hospital-based cross-sectional survey conducted from January 2017 to May 2017 engaged 200 women with singleton pregnancies at the maternity/labor unit of the St Martins de pores Hospital. Questionnaires were administered to establish socio-economic and demographic characteristics of respondents while obstetric data were retrieved from participants’ medical records/files. Maternal factors associated with macrosomia were examined using multiple logistic regressions. Of the 200 participants, the prevalence of fetal macrosomia was 6.5% [95% CI: 3.50%–10.86%]. Majority of the participants’ ages ranged between 21–25 (28.5%) and 26–30 (26.30%) years. Most of the participants were multigravida 99 (49.5%) and multipara 76 (38.0%) respectively. Aspiration of the meconium (p < 0.001) and poor Apgar score at the first minute were significantly associated (p = 0.011) with fetal macrosomia. Obesity 7 (53.8%) [11.91 (1.91–63.08), p = 0.019] and history of fetal macrosomia 9 (69.2%) [172.5 (29.37–1088.63), p < 0.001] were significantly associated with macrosomia. The prevalence of fetal macrosomia was 6.5% [95% CI: 3.50%–10.86%]; the previous history of fetal macrosomia and obesity were the main predictors of macrosomia. Moreover, poor Apgar score and aspiration of the meconium were the complications associated with fetal macrosomia.