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Background: Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is common during and after pregnancy. It has been assumed that Scandinavian women report more PGP than women of other ethnicities. However, there are few population-based studies on ethnic differences and few with ethnicity as risk factor for PGP. The purposes of the present study were: To examine the prevalence of self-reported PGP through pregnancy and early postpartum in a multi-ethnic cohort. To investigate how ethnicity and patient characteristics were associated with risk of PGP during pregnancy and early postpartum. To investigate if clinical and personal factors obtained in gestation week (GW) 15 were associated with PGP in GW28 and postpartum week (PPW) 14. Methods: This study analyzed questionnaire data from 823 women from the Stork - Groruddalen mult-iethnic cohort study in Norway. Chi-square tests were used to investigate ethnic differences in prevalence of self-reported PGP, and logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with self-reported PGP. Results: Women from South-Asia and Middle East reported 10-20% higher prevalence of self-reported PGP at all time points compared with Western women. Ethnicity was associated with PGP in GW15 and PPW14, adjusted for parity. Pain locations in pelvic area (PGP locations) in GW15, especially combined symphysis and posterior PGP, gave the highest risk (OR=7.4) for PGP in GW28 and in PPW14 (OR = 3.9). Being multiparous was a risk for PGP in PPW14 (OR=1.9). Conclusions: Women of South Asian and Middle Eastern background had higher risk of self-reported PGP than Western women. Ethnicity was associated with PGP in GW15 and PPW14, after adjustments for parity. PGP locations in GW15 was the most prominent risk factor for PGP in GW28 and PPW14, whilst ethnicity was not significant in multivariable analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A low physical activity (PA) level in pregnancy is associated with several adverse health outcomes. Early identification of pregnant women at risk of physical inactivity could inform strategies to promote PA, but no studies so far have presented attempts to develop prognostic models for low PA in pregnancy. Based on moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) objectively recorded in mid/late pregnancy, our objectives were to describe MVPA levels and compliance with the PA guideline (≥150 MVPA minutes/week), and to develop a prognostic model for non-compliance with the PA guideline.Methods: From a multi-ethnic population-based cohort, we analysed data from 555 women with MVPA recorded in gestational week (GW) 28 with the monitor SenseWear™ Pro3 Armband. Predictor variables were collected in early pregnancy (GW 15). We organized the predictors within the domains health, culture, socioeconomic position, pregnancy, lifestyle, psychosocial factors, perceived preventive effect of PA and physical neighbourhood. The development of the prognostic model followed several steps, including univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses.Results: Overall, 25 % complied with the PA guideline, but the proportion was lower in South Asians (14 %) and Middle Easterners (16 %) compared with Westerners (35 %). Among South Asians and Middle Easterners, 35 and 28 %, respectively, did not accumulate any MVPA minutes/week compared with 18 % among Westerners. The predictors retained in the prognostic model for PA guideline non-compliance were ethnic minority background, multiparity, high body fat percentage, and perception of few physically active friends. The prognostic model provided fair discrimination between women who did vs. did not comply with the PA guideline.Conclusion: Overall, the proportion who complied with the PA guideline in GW 28 was low, and women with ethnic minority background, multiparity, high body fat percentage and few physically active friends had increased probability of non-compliance. The prognostic model showed fair performance in discriminating between women who did comply and those who did not comply with the PA guideline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the experiences of immigrant Kurdish patients in Oslo, Norway, related to the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Design: A qualitative study with focus group interviews. Setting: Participants were recruited at meeting places in Oslo through Kurdish networks. Subjects: Eighteen Kurdish immigrants (9 females and 9 males) living in Oslo, aged 40 to 64 years, diagnosed with T2DM participated in a total of five focus groups. Participants had to be proficient in the Norwegian language to be eligible. Main outcome measures: Immigrant Kurdish patients' experiences with being diagnosed with T2DM, their disease management, and need for medical information. Results: Participants stressed that living with T2DM was emotionally challenging, mainly because they were afraid of possible complications of the disease. They claimed to adhere satisfactorily to their medicines and blood glucose measurements. The majority of participants shared that they had made changes to their diet, even though it was difficult. To the contrary, physical activity received only minimal attention. The participants' main source of information was general practitioners and the majority of them were satisfied with the information that they had received about their disease and its management. Conclusion: Kurdish T2DM patients in the present study from Norway reported that they adhered to the medical treatment, even if they were stressed about living with the disease. However, they were more occupied with changing their diet than to be physically active. Therefore, healthcare personnel should try to be aware of lifestyle challenges among their patients. KEY POINTS Eighteen Kurdish patients in Oslo with Type 2 diabetes claimed to be adherent to medication treatment and blood glucose measurement. The participants shared that they had made changes to their diet, even though it was hard. There was generally little attention given to the need for physical activity in their daily lives. The participants were in need of more information and support in making healthy lifestyle changes.

Objectives: To explore ethnic differences in changes in body mass index (BMI) from the age of 18 years to 3 months postpartum., Design: A population-based cohort study., Setting: Child Health Clinics in Oslo, Norway., Participants: Participants were 811 pregnant women (mean age 30 years). Ethnicity was categorised into six groups., Primary Outcome Measures: The outcome variable was BMI (kg/m 2 ) measured at the age of 18 and 25 years, at prepregnancy and at 3 months postpartum. Body weight at 18 years, 25 years and prepregnancy were self-reported in early pregnancy, while body height and weight at 3 months postpartum were measured. The main statistical method was generalised estimating equations, adjusted for age. The analyses were stratified by parity due to ethnicity×time×parity interaction (p<0.001)., Results: Primiparous South Asian women had a 1.45 (95% CI 0.39 to 2.52) kg/m² higher and Middle Eastern women had 1.43 (0.16 to 2.70) kg/m 2 higher mean BMI increase from 18 years to postpartum than Western European women. Among multiparous women, the mean BMI increased 1.99 (1.02 to 2.95) kg/m 2 more in South Asian women, 1.48 (0.31 to 2.64) kg/m 2 more in Middle Eastern women and 2.49 (0.55 to 4.42) kg/m 2 more in African women than in Western European women from 18 years to prepregnancy. From 18 years to postpartum, the mean increase was 4.40 (2.38 to 6.42) kg/m 2 higher in African women and 1.94 to 2.78 kg/m 2 higher in the other groups than in Western European women., Conclusions: Multiparous women of ethnic minority origin seem substantially more prone to long-term weight gain than multiparous Western European women in Norway., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)