The growing urbanization in Tanzania comes with changes in dietary and physical activity practices. This eventually affects disease patterns, including increasing rates of obesity and the occurrence of diabetes mellitus.
In this study, Dr Amani Kikula and colleagues aimed to understand the magnitude of diabetes mellitus during pregnancy and the screening accuracy of recommended screening tests during pregnancy. They recruited and screened 970 women receiving antenatal care in two district hospitals located in Dar es Salaam and Coast regions of Tanzania. They found that one in every ten women had pregnancy-associated diabetes mellitus.
Glucose in urine test performed poorly as a screening test for diabetes during pregnancy. The author team recommend institutionalization of routine screening for diabetes mellitus during pregnancy as part of antenatal care and a revision of the recommended screening tests.
Link to full article "Hyperglycemia in pregnancy: A sensitivity analysis study of two recommended screening tests in Tanzania" published in journal PLOS Global Public Health
