The rate of post partum diabetes screening and its related factors in women with a history of gestational diabetes in Kermanshah (2012)

Background: Women are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes and can be screened for
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). This study assessed the prevalence of postpartum glucose testing
among women with the recent history of gestational diabetes and examined its related factors.
Methods &Materials: For this cross-sectional study, 150 women referring to the clinics of KUMS
(Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences) for following postpartum care were selected. Data were
gathered using a validated and reliable and two-sectioned self-report questionnaire including questions
regarding demographic data and disease scales. Data were analyzed using spss 21 software.
Results: 48.7% of women with GDM completed postpartum glucose screening. Of these, 21.9% had
abnormal glucose test and 10.9% had diabetes. Among the demographic factors, significant differences
were detected among these people in comparison to those not referring to the clinics, including job,
education, number of the family members, etc. For the disease factors, the results about the following
items were significantly different: insulin administration during pregnancy (p=0.026), age of diabetes
onset (p=0.002), family history of diabetes (p=0.001), and history of hospitalization during pregnancy
(p=0.002).
Conclusion: Findings suggest a low rate of referral for postpartum glucose screening in women with a
history of gestational diabetes. These results can help health care authorities to deal with the obstacles
for referrals of the patients. Through identification of these patients after delivery, an opportunity for
prevention of or postponing the onset of diabetes type 2 using diet care, exercising and weight loss can
be provided.