Abstract
Background: The rising rate of obesity is a major public health concern Worldwide. Studied as early as 1945 reported a clear association between maternal overweight and adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes. Objectives: To determine the association between maternal body mass index and pregnancy outcome among Libyan women. Methods: A descriptive longitudinal study conducted at Tajoura National Heart Center at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department in the period between October 2017 and August, 2018. It included 200 cases, antenatal, intra-partum, and postnatal complications were evaluated in relation to age, parity, and body mass index for each individual case. Where obeseity was defined as body mass index (BMI) more than 30. Perinatal outcome of singleton newborns was evaluated after suitable adjustments. Exclusion criteria: Women with multiple gestation, and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Results: In the group of obese mothers, there was an increased risk of: gestational diabetes by 12.19% (P 0.009), pre-eclampsia 21.92% (P 0.02), anemia 22.22% (P 0.001), oligohydromins 6.80 (P 0.003), polyhydrominous 6.67% (P 0.02), ante partum hemorrhage 52.22% (P 0.002), varicosity 15.56% (P 0.013), as well as, urinary tract infection 6.59% (P 0.23) post-date 8.33% (P 0.12)intrauterine fetal death 9.72% (P 0.003) and multiple pregnancy 5.92% (P 0.01). Intrapartum complications: failed induction 16.67% (P 0.001), operative vaginal delivery12% (P 0.03), and increase cesarean section rate 14.44% (P 0.016), birth injuries 5.22% (p0.027), and fetal distress 7.65% (p0.001). Conclusion: Maternal obesity in early pregnancy is strongly associated with a number of pregnancy complications and adverse prenatal outcomes. Key words: obesity, maternal, neonatal, complications, Libyan women