Gestational diabetes mellitus in Africa: a systematic review.

<h4>Background</h4>Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is any degree of impaired glucose tolerance first recognised during pregnancy. Most women with GDM revert to normal glucose metabolism after delivery of their babies; however, they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in l...

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Main Authors: Shelley Macaulay, David B Dunger, Shane A Norris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0097871
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author Shelley Macaulay
David B Dunger
Shane A Norris
author_facet Shelley Macaulay
David B Dunger
Shane A Norris
author_sort Shelley Macaulay
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is any degree of impaired glucose tolerance first recognised during pregnancy. Most women with GDM revert to normal glucose metabolism after delivery of their babies; however, they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life as are their offspring. Determining a country's GDM prevalence can assist with policy guidelines regarding GDM screening and management, and can highlight areas requiring research. This systematic review assesses GDM prevalence in Africa.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>Three electronic databases were searched without language restrictions; PubMed, Scopus and the Cochrane Library. Thirty-one search terms were searched. Eligible articles defined GDM, stated what GDM screening approaches were employed and reported GDM prevalence. The reporting quality and risk of bias within each study was assessed. The PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were followed. The literature search identified 466 unique records. Sixty full text articles were reviewed of which 14 were included in the systematic review. One abstract, for which the full text article could not be obtained, was also included. Information regarding GDM classification, screening methods and prevalence was obtained for six African countries; Ethiopia (n = 1), Morocco (n = 1), Mozambique (n = 1), Nigeria (n = 6), South Africa (n= 4) and Tanzania (n = 1). Prevalence figures ranged from 0% (Tanzania) to 13.9% (Nigeria) with some studies focussing on women with GDM risk factors. Most studies utilised the two hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and applied the World Health Organization's diagnostic criteria.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Six countries, equating to 11% of the African continent, were represented in this systematic review. This indicates how little is known about GDM in Africa and highlights the need for further research. Considering the increasing public health burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes, it is essential that the extent of GDM is understood in Africa to allow for effective intervention programmes.
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spelling doaj-art-eca04f68ab9f4c5ba651b96b14a3c5f62025-08-20T02:46:01ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0196e9787110.1371/journal.pone.0097871Gestational diabetes mellitus in Africa: a systematic review.Shelley MacaulayDavid B DungerShane A Norris<h4>Background</h4>Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is any degree of impaired glucose tolerance first recognised during pregnancy. Most women with GDM revert to normal glucose metabolism after delivery of their babies; however, they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life as are their offspring. Determining a country's GDM prevalence can assist with policy guidelines regarding GDM screening and management, and can highlight areas requiring research. This systematic review assesses GDM prevalence in Africa.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>Three electronic databases were searched without language restrictions; PubMed, Scopus and the Cochrane Library. Thirty-one search terms were searched. Eligible articles defined GDM, stated what GDM screening approaches were employed and reported GDM prevalence. The reporting quality and risk of bias within each study was assessed. The PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were followed. The literature search identified 466 unique records. Sixty full text articles were reviewed of which 14 were included in the systematic review. One abstract, for which the full text article could not be obtained, was also included. Information regarding GDM classification, screening methods and prevalence was obtained for six African countries; Ethiopia (n = 1), Morocco (n = 1), Mozambique (n = 1), Nigeria (n = 6), South Africa (n= 4) and Tanzania (n = 1). Prevalence figures ranged from 0% (Tanzania) to 13.9% (Nigeria) with some studies focussing on women with GDM risk factors. Most studies utilised the two hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and applied the World Health Organization's diagnostic criteria.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Six countries, equating to 11% of the African continent, were represented in this systematic review. This indicates how little is known about GDM in Africa and highlights the need for further research. Considering the increasing public health burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes, it is essential that the extent of GDM is understood in Africa to allow for effective intervention programmes.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0097871
spellingShingle Shelley Macaulay
David B Dunger
Shane A Norris
Gestational diabetes mellitus in Africa: a systematic review.
PLoS ONE
title Gestational diabetes mellitus in Africa: a systematic review.
title_full Gestational diabetes mellitus in Africa: a systematic review.
title_fullStr Gestational diabetes mellitus in Africa: a systematic review.
title_full_unstemmed Gestational diabetes mellitus in Africa: a systematic review.
title_short Gestational diabetes mellitus in Africa: a systematic review.
title_sort gestational diabetes mellitus in africa a systematic review
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0097871
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