Study on Preventing Excessive Weight Gain During Pregnancy
Author Information
Author(s): Kinnunen Tarja I, Aittasalo Minna, Koponen Päivikki, Ojala Katriina, Mansikkamäki Kirsi, Weiderpass Elisabete, Fogelholm Mikael, Luoto Riitta
Primary Institution: UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research
Hypothesis
The study protocol would be feasible to implement in the routine maternity and child health care.
Conclusion
The study protocol was mostly feasible to implement, which encourages conducting large trials in comparable settings.
Supporting Evidence
- The recruitment rate was slower than expected, leading to an extended recruitment period.
- The average participation rate of eligible women at study enrolment was 77%.
- In total, 99% of the data on weight, physical activity, and diet were obtained.
Takeaway
This study looked at how to help pregnant women not gain too much weight. It found that the plan mostly worked well.
Methodology
A non-randomized controlled trial was conducted in three intervention and three control maternity and child health clinics in Finland.
Potential Biases
Some baseline differences between the intervention and control clinics may exist due to non-randomization.
Limitations
The clinics could not be randomized, which may have caused baseline differences between participants.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 132 pregnant women, 92 postpartum women, and 23 public health nurses.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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