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Background: Gestational Diabetes mellitus (GDM) is fast becoming an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence and the perinatal outcome of gestational diabetes in an antenatal population. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study. The patients were pregnant women between 24-28 weeks of gestation without a prior diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The consenting women were evaluated using fasting plasma glucose and oral glucose tolerance testing using 75 grams of glucose in 300ml of water orally. Results: Two hundred and fifteen women participated in the study and the prevalence of GDM was 9%. The mean fasting plasma glucose was 4.04mmol/l at the time of the Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and 5.78mmol/l after the oral glucose load. When compared with pregnant normoglycaemic patients, GDM patients had significantly fewer vaginal deliveries (p=0.05), higher birth weight (3.71kg), and more neonatal admissions (50%). Conclusions. Gestational diabetes mellitus is an important disease entity, and it is a cause of maternal and perinatal morbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Under-treatment of asthma in pregnancy can result in adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. The potential risk of teratogenicity may limit prompt and adequate management of medical disorders in pregnancy. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the physicians' prescribing pattern, their perceived safety of asthma medications and management of asthma during pregnancy in obstetric care units of a developing country. Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire containing case vignettes and multiple choice questions were used to evaluate the physicians prescribing practices, their perceived safety of medications and approach to asthma management in pregnancy. Result: Of the 144 doctors that participated in the study; 76 (52.8%) would prefer inhaled long-acting β2 agonist and inhaled corticosteroids combination (LABA/ICSs) while 10 (6.9%) would prefer leukotriene antagonists (LTA) as a controller medication in the first trimester of pregnancy. Short-acting β2 agonists, LABA, and theophylline were perceived to be safest throughout pregnancy, corticosteroids and cromoglycates were considered unsafe in first trimester while LTA were considered unsafe in all the trimesters by a majority of respondents. To gain asthma control in a patient already on low dose LABA/ICS, 94 (65.3%) of the doctors would refer their to a respiratory specialist instead of increasing the dose of LABA/ICS. Less than half (42.3%) were willing to address medication compliance in nonconforming patients. The majority (72.2%) of the doctors' self-reported nonadherence to the asthma treatment guideline. Conclusion: Even though, most of the physicians caring for pregnant women seem to prefer LABA/ICS combination for asthma control, there exist a knowledge gap in the stepwise management of asthma, perceived safety of most asthma medications and tackling poor medication adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]