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Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and birth outcomes in a cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a major contributory factor of perinatal morbidity and mortality. This suboptimal growth is associated with infants being small-for-gestational age. In addition to genetic and placental factors, maternal factors such as infection are also respons...

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Main Author: Sankar, Chenoa
Other Authors: Malaba, Thokozile
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Public Health and Family Medicine 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author Sankar, Chenoa
author2 Malaba, Thokozile
author_browse Malaba, Thokozile
Sankar, Chenoa
author_facet Malaba, Thokozile
Sankar, Chenoa
author_sort Sankar, Chenoa
collection Thesis
description Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a major contributory factor of perinatal morbidity and mortality. This suboptimal growth is associated with infants being small-for-gestational age. In addition to genetic and placental factors, maternal factors such as infection are also responsible for IUGR. Numerous studies have shown that HIV infection could increase the risk of IUGR. Given the consequences of IUGR, determining the incidence of IUGR in a high HIV prevalence setting is essential. Screening for foetal growth abnormalities is an essential component of antenatal care, with foetal ultrasound playing a key role. Improving antenatal detection of IUGR in resource limited settings could improve perinatal outcomes. Methods: This research is a secondary analysis of a large prospective observational study conducted among pregnant women, seeking antenatal care at the Gugulethu MOU in South Africa. Pregnancy dating and foetal size was determined by research ultrasound in women ≤24 weeks' gestation. Women from the overall cohort were included if they had a singleton pregnancy, at least one ultrasound and a recorded estimated foetal weight. A subset of HIV-infected women enrolled in a longitudinal component were included for additional analyses. Growth restriction was determined using INTERGROWTH-21ST Project Standards. The incidence of IUGR was compared by HIV status in the overall cohort; while the relationship between estimated foetal weight and birthweight and size for gestational age was explored through regression modelling. Results: 1391 women were included in the overall cohort, and had an ultrasound at a median gestational age of 19 (16-23). The incidence of IUGR was very low (1.3%); with an unexpected difference observed by HIV status. In the nested cohort (n=453), using the ultrasound conducted at median gestational age of 28 weeks (27-28), an association between estimated foetal weight and birthweight was observed (β = 1.16, p <0.01). However, no association observed between estimated foetal weight and size for gestational age. Conclusions: While an unexpected difference was detected in IUGR by HIV status, further research is needed, into the incidence of IUGR in populations with HIV, taking into consideration ART status. Further exploration of the ability of foetal biometry to independently and accurately identify IUGR cases antenatally in resource limited settings is essential.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:44:10.407Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
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publisherStr Department of Public Health and Family Medicine
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/38156 Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and birth outcomes in a cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa Sankar, Chenoa Malaba, Thokozile Public Health Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a major contributory factor of perinatal morbidity and mortality. This suboptimal growth is associated with infants being small-for-gestational age. In addition to genetic and placental factors, maternal factors such as infection are also responsible for IUGR. Numerous studies have shown that HIV infection could increase the risk of IUGR. Given the consequences of IUGR, determining the incidence of IUGR in a high HIV prevalence setting is essential. Screening for foetal growth abnormalities is an essential component of antenatal care, with foetal ultrasound playing a key role. Improving antenatal detection of IUGR in resource limited settings could improve perinatal outcomes. Methods: This research is a secondary analysis of a large prospective observational study conducted among pregnant women, seeking antenatal care at the Gugulethu MOU in South Africa. Pregnancy dating and foetal size was determined by research ultrasound in women ≤24 weeks' gestation. Women from the overall cohort were included if they had a singleton pregnancy, at least one ultrasound and a recorded estimated foetal weight. A subset of HIV-infected women enrolled in a longitudinal component were included for additional analyses. Growth restriction was determined using INTERGROWTH-21ST Project Standards. The incidence of IUGR was compared by HIV status in the overall cohort; while the relationship between estimated foetal weight and birthweight and size for gestational age was explored through regression modelling. Results: 1391 women were included in the overall cohort, and had an ultrasound at a median gestational age of 19 (16-23). The incidence of IUGR was very low (1.3%); with an unexpected difference observed by HIV status. In the nested cohort (n=453), using the ultrasound conducted at median gestational age of 28 weeks (27-28), an association between estimated foetal weight and birthweight was observed (β = 1.16, p <0.01). However, no association observed between estimated foetal weight and size for gestational age. Conclusions: While an unexpected difference was detected in IUGR by HIV status, further research is needed, into the incidence of IUGR in populations with HIV, taking into consideration ART status. Further exploration of the ability of foetal biometry to independently and accurately identify IUGR cases antenatally in resource limited settings is essential. 2023-07-24T13:47:55Z 2023-07-24T13:47:55Z 2023 2023-07-24T13:47:23Z Master Thesis Masters Masters http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38156 eng application/pdf Department of Public Health and Family Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences
spellingShingle Public Health
Sankar, Chenoa
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and birth outcomes in a cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and birth outcomes in a cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa
title_full Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and birth outcomes in a cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa
title_fullStr Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and birth outcomes in a cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and birth outcomes in a cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa
title_short Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and birth outcomes in a cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa
title_sort intrauterine growth restriction iugr and birth outcomes in a cohort of hiv infected pregnant women in cape town south africa
topic Public Health
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38156
work_keys_str_mv AT sankarchenoa intrauterinegrowthrestrictioniugrandbirthoutcomesinacohortofhivinfectedpregnantwomenincapetownsouthafrica