Postpartum obesity and weight gain among human immunodeficiency virus‐infected and human immunodeficiency virus‐uninfected women in South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID15536668
AuthorsAngela M Bengtson (0000-0003-1305-8132, Rhode Island Department of Health, corresponding author), Tamsin K Phillips (0000-0003-4554-2922, University of Cape Town), Stanzi M le Roux (0000-0001-8882-698X, University of Cape Town), Kirsty Brittain (0000-0003-3940-1242, University of Cape Town), Allison Buba (Columbia University), Elaine J Abrams (0000-0001-7938-8981, Columbia University), Landon Myers (0000-0002-8106-7658, University of Cape Town), Landon Myer (Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Family Medicine University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa)
Year2020
Volume16
Issue3
Pagese12949-e12949
Publication date2020-01-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.12949
PMID31943774
OpenAlexW2999415314
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited69

In South Africa, up to 40% of pregnant women are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 30-45% are obese. However, little is known about the dual burden of HIV and obesity in the postpartum period. In a cohort of HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected pregnant women initiating antiretroviral therapy in Cape Town, South Africa, we examined maternal anthropometry (weight and body mass index [BMI]) from 6 weeks through 12 months postpartum. Using multinomial logistic regression, we estimated associations between baseline sociodemographic, clinical, behavioural, and HIV factors and being overweight-obese I (BMI 25 to 35), compared with being underweight or normal weight (BMI <25), at 12 months postpartum. Among 877 women, we estimated that 43% of HIV-infected women and 51% of HIV-uninfected women were obese I-III at enrollment into antenatal care, and 51% of women were obese I-III by 12 months postpartum. On average, both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women gained, rather than lost, weight between 6 weeks and 12 months postpartum, but HIV-uninfected women gained more weight (3.3 kg vs. 1.7 kg). Women who were obese I-III pre-pregnancy were more likely to gain weight postpartum. In multivariable analyses, HIV-infection status, being married/cohabitating, higher gravidity, and high blood pressure were independently associated with being obese II-III at 12 months postpartum. Obesity during pregnancy is a growing public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa. Additional research to understand how obesity and HIV infection affect maternal and child health outcomes is urgently needed

Anthropometry · Body mass index · Environmental health · Obesity · Obstetrics · Overweight · Population · Postpartum period · Pregnancy · Underweight · Gestational Diabetes Research and Management · HIV-related health complications and treatments · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Internal Medicine