Maternal responsibility and omission of complexity: an exploration of the portrayal of gestational diabetes mellitus in Danish written media.

OBJECTIVES: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has implications for the future health of both mother and offspring, and there is a risk that mothers are held responsible and blamed for their own and their offspring's long-term health. The media plays a significant role in shaping public perceptions of health. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate how GDM and women with GDM are portrayed in Danish written media. DESIGN: We identified written newspaper articles reporting on GDM from 2018 to 2019 and analysed them using thematic network analysis and elements from critical discourse analysis. RESULTS: In total, 130 articles were included in the analysis. Four themes emerged: (1) ways of introducing GDM, (2) descriptions of causes and prevention of GDM, (3) descriptions of consequences of GDM and (4) value-laden descriptions of GDM. GDM was often mentioned in relation to other conditions or factors and with lack of differentiation. Maternal responsibility was emphasised via oversimplified descriptions of causal relations, descriptions of individual agency and no emphasis on structural causes and preventive measures. GDM was positioned as resulting in 'bad pregnancies' using value-laden wordings. CONCLUSION: We identified various aspects of how GDM is portrayed in written media. The findings signal the importance of clear, nuanced and respectful communication on GDM, including conveying the complexity of the condition and the role of structural factors.

Childhood adversity and the risk of gestational diabetes: A population-based cohort study of nulliparous pregnant women.

AIMS: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common pregnancy complications, and though it may be linked to childhood adversity, the effect of different types of adversity remains unclear. Childhood adversity is linked to a younger maternal age, which may hide the overall impact of adversity on GDM risk. We therefore aimed to explore the association between different types of childhood adversity and GDM while accounting for the potential impact of maternal age. METHODS: We used Danish nation-wide register data, including 208,207 women giving birth for the first time from 2004 to 2018. Five adversity groups were used to examine the effect of childhood adversity on GDM risk: (1) low (referent group), (2) early life material deprivation, (3) persistent deprivation, (4) loss or threat of loss within the family and (5) high adversity. RESULTS: 5375 women were diagnosed with GDM in the study population (2.6% absolute risk). Compared to women who experienced low adversity, the other adversity groups had a higher GDM risk (absolute difference [%]) directly; early material deprivation (0.64% [95% CI 0.44; 0.84]), persistent deprivation (0.63% [0.41; 0.86]), loss or threat of loss (0.73% [0.42; 1.05]) and high adversity (0.80% [0.32; 1.27]). The indirect effect of maternal age attenuated the total effect of childhood adversity on GDM by an absolute difference of 0.25%-0.46%. CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing childhood adversity to any extent is associated with a higher risk of GDM. Interventions aimed at preventing childhood adversity may have a positive effect in reducing GDM burden and the associated health risks.

Bringing an end to diabetes stigma and discrimination: an international consensus statement on evidence and recommendations.

People with diabetes often encounter stigma (ie, negative social judgments, stereotypes, prejudice), which can adversely affect emotional, mental, and physical health; self-care, access to optimal health care; and social and professional opportunities. To accelerate an end to diabetes stigma and discrimination, an international multidisciplinary expert panel (n=51 members, from 18 countries) conducted rapid reviews and participated in a three-round Delphi survey process. We achieved consensus on 25 statements of evidence and 24 statements of recommendations. The consensus is that diabetes stigma is driven primarily by blame, perceptions of burden or sickness, invisibility, and fear or disgust. On average, four in five adults with diabetes experience diabetes stigma and one in five experience discrimination (ie, unfair and prejudicial treatment) due to diabetes, such as in health care, education, and employment. Diabetes stigma and discrimination are harmful, unacceptable, unethical, and counterproductive. Collective leadership is needed to proactively challenge, and bring an end to, diabetes stigma and discrimination. Consequently, we achieved unanimous consensus on a pledge to end diabetes stigma and discrimination.

Health promotion intervention among women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus: penetration, participation, and baseline findings from the Face-it randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Face-it is a randomized controlled trial for women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their families designed to evaluate the effect of a health promotion intervention on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk and quality of life. This study examined (1) the penetration and participation rates for the Face-it trial, (2) the characteristics of the participating women and the potential differences in characteristics according to partner participation status, and (3) representativity of the women at baseline. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We identified women with GDM during pregnancy and invited them and their partners to a baseline examination 10-14 weeks after delivery. Representativity was assessed by comparing the baseline participants with non-participating women, the general population of women with GDM delivering in Denmark, and populations from other intervention trials. RESULTS: The penetration rate was 38.0% (867/2279) and the participation rate was 32.9% (285/867). The 285 women who attended baseline had a mean age of 32.7 (±4.8) years and body mass index (BMI) of 28.1 (±5.4) kg/m2, and 69.8% had a partner who participated. The women participating with a partner were more often primiparous, born in Denmark (82.8% vs 68.2%), were younger, and more often had a BMI ≤24.9 kg/m2 (35.7% vs 21.2%) compared with women without a partner. Compared with the general population of women with GDM in Denmark, these women broadly had similar degree of heterogeneity, but had higher rates of primiparity and singleton deliveries, and lower rates of preterm delivery and prepregnancy obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The penetration and participation rates were acceptable. We found a high rate of partner participation. Overall, women participating with a partner were comparable with those participating without a partner. Participating women were broadly similar to the general national GDM population, however with prepregnancy obesity, multiparity, preterm delivery, and multiple pregnancy being less represented. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03997773.

Motivation for Behavior Change among Women with Recent Gestational Diabetes and Their Partners-A Qualitative Investigation among Participants in the Face-It Intervention.

Promoting diet and physical activity is important for women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their partners to reduce the risk of future type 2 diabetes (T2D). The study aimed to understand how motivation for changing diet and physical activity behaviors among women with recent GDM and their partners was experienced after participation in the Danish Face-it intervention. Fourteen couples' interviews were conducted. Data analysis followed a reflexive thematic analysis. Guided by self-determination theory and interdependence theory, we identified four themes affecting couples' motivation for health behavior change: (1) The need to feel understood after delivery; (2) adjusting health expectations; (3) individual and mutual preferences for health behaviors; and (4) the health threat of future T2D as a cue to action. We found that couples in general perceived the Face-it intervention as useful and motivating. Using couple interviews increased our understanding of how the women and partners influenced each other's perspectives after a GDM-affected pregnancy and thus how targeting couples as opposed to women alone may motivate health behavior change.

Barriers and facilitators for sustainable weight loss in the pre-conception period among Danish women with overweight or obesity - a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight or obesity in women of reproductive age continues to increase. A high pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) has been shown to increase the risk of pregnancy complications and predispose offspring to childhood obesity. However, little is known about factors affecting women's ability to achieve sustainable weight management and very few studies have applied behavior change theory to qualitative data. AIM: This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators for weight management among women with overweight or obesity, who wanted to lose weight before pregnancy. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 women with a BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2, who planned to become pregnant in the near future. Data were analyzed using an abductive approach and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior model was applied as a conceptual framework. RESULTS: The women's strongest motivator for pre-conception weight loss was their ability to become pregnant. Barriers to successful weight management included their partners' unhealthy behaviors, mental health challenges, competing priorities, and internalized weight stigmatization. The women described careful planning, partners' health behaviors, social support, and good mental health as facilitators for sustainable weight management. CONCLUSION: Our study provides insights into factors affecting weight management among women with overweight or obesity in the pre-conception period. Future interventions on weight management require a holistic approach, including a focus on social support, especially from the partner, and mental health, as well as an effort to limit internalized weight stigma.

A qualitative investigation into the perceptions and experiences of the stigma attached to gestational diabetes mellitus among women in Denmark.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Denmark, with a particular focus on GDM-specific stigma. METHOD: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 women with GDM from January to May 2022. All interviews were transcribed and analysed abductively using Braun and Clarke's framework for applied reflexive analysis. RESULTS: Five themes were identified, 1) victim-blaming narrative, 2) identity threat, 3) non-disclosure and anticipated stigma, 4) stigma in a clinical setting, and 5) stigma reduction in a clinical setting. Additionally, intersectionality was identified between GDM-specific stigma, notions of how to be a good mother, and stigma associated with having type 2 diabetes mellitus and overweight. Implications of GDM-specific stigma included suboptimal GDM care and management, i.e., not attending screening for GDM, and not wanting to disclose the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The impact of GDM-specific stigma on the informants' lives included some informants not accepting all services provided by the healthcare system, and some not wanting to identify with the diagnosis. These findings may help inform both healthcare personnel and future health promotion interventions to minimize the reproduction of a victim-blaming narrative and thereby promote well-being among women with GDM.

Acceptability and adoption of the Face-it health promotion intervention targeting women with prior gestational diabetes and their partners: A qualitative study of the perspectives of healthcare professionals.

AIM: In this study, we investigated healthcare professionals' (HCPs) experiences with delivering home visits and digital coaching in the Face-it health promotion intervention targeting women with recent GDM and their families. Understanding the acceptability and adoption of a health promotion intervention can provide insights into intervention fidelity and future scalability. METHODS: In total, 13 HCPs were interviewed. Data were analysed thematically through an abductive approach using Sekhon et al.'s theoretical framework of acceptability and Greenhalgh et al.'s framework for non-adoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread, and sustainability. RESULTS: Acceptability and adoption of the intervention among HCPs were influenced by (1) skills and technology, (2) values, and (3) organisation. The intervention was experienced as acceptable to HCPs because the dialogue tool, visualising different topics, used in the home visits and digital coaching through the LIVA app were flexible and enabled them to address psychosocial health and personalise goal setting in families. However, delivering asynchronous and non-verbal communication was experienced as straining HCPs' relationship with families, which misaligned with HCPs' values. Establishing a non-judgemental environment was needed to increase intervention acceptability among HCPs towards addressing type 2 diabetes risk after GDM. Increased collaboration between HCPs may have aligned advice and support to families and could have benefitted delivery. CONCLUSIONS: When delivering health promotion to women with prior GDM, flexible intervention components that support psychosocial- and mental health topics may increase acceptability and adoption of the intervention among HCPs. HCPs' skills, values, and organisational factors should be considered prior and during implementation.

Gestational Diabetes and International Migration.

In many countries, immigrant women constitute a substantial proportion of women giving birth. With gestational diabetes being one of the most common complications in pregnancy, understanding gestational diabetes in the context of international migration becomes increasingly relevant. Here, we examine the current evidence related to international migration and gestational diabetes, including short- and long-term adverse outcomes and the experiences of immigrant women with gestational diabetes care and long-term follow-up. Existing evidence focuses on immigrants in high-income countries, and has mainly examined differences in the risk of developing gestational diabetes, or on the experiences of immigrant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Studies suggest that the risk of gestational diabetes may be influenced by migration and that immigrant women likely experience particular barriers to care and follow-up. Current research on perinatal outcomes is inconclusive and studies on long-term outcomes are practically absent. Future research should include data on country of origin and examine the role of premigration and postmigration factors in developing gestational diabetes and its associated short- and long-term outcomes. Understanding these factors will provide useful insights into improving the health and health care needs of migrating populations and enable inclusion of culturally appropriate health care practices, thereby improving the health of our current and future generations.

Pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight-gain predict maternal hemoglobin levels and are jointly associated with neonatal outcomes in a Mexican birth cohort.

Introduction: Introduction: there is scarce evidence of the effects of obesity and gestational weight- gain (GWG) on hemoglobin (Hb) levels in pregnancy. Little is known about the implications in offspring when pregnant mothers present with both at delivery. Aim: to identify if pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and GWG are associated with Hb levels at pregnancy third trimester; and identify if the BMI status plus anemia at delivery could influence offspring anthropometry. Methods: in a sub-sample of pregnant women (n = 108) and their offspring (n = 63) from a Mexican birth cohort, information from medical files and questionnaires were used to obtain pre-pregnancy BMI (categorized as normal, overweight, and obese), GWG, and Hb during pregnancy; at delivery and postpartum anthropometric measures were obtained for offspring. Adjusted regression models predicted Hb levels according to pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG; offspring growth trajectories from birth to 3 months old were compared according to mother´s BMI status and anemia combinations at delivery. Results: pre-pregnancy normal (N), overweight (OV), and obesity (OB) were present in 48 %, 40 %, and 12 % of the participants, respectively. Anemia was detected in 22.8 % of the participants at third trimester. Hb levels in the third trimester were significantly lower in those with pre-pregnancy OB-BMI and excessive GWG (12.1 g/dL, 95 % CI: 10.7-13.5) compared to those with pre-pregnancy OB-BMI and insufficient GWG (13.3g/dL, 95 %CI: 11.9-14.8) (p = 0.04). At delivery, 11 % presented with OB-BMI and anemia. Women with OB-BMI and normal Hb levels had children with higher scores in Weight-for-Length-Z score and triceps skinfold. Conclusion: among OB women, excessive GWG was associated with having lower Hb levels in the third trimester. Newborns had higher scores in growth patterns related to adiposity from birth to 3 months old if mothers had normal Hb levels and OB.

Introducción: Introducción: existe escasa evidencia de los efectos de obesidad y ganancia de peso gestacional (GPG) y niveles de hemoglobina (Hb) durante el embarazo. Poco se conoce sobre las implicaciones en la descendencia cuando las embarazadas presentan ambos en el momento del parto. Objetivos: identificar si el índice de masa corporal (IMC) previo al embarazo y el GPG están asociados con los niveles de Hb en el tercer trimestre del embarazo; e identificar si el IMC más la anemia en el momento del parto podrían influir en la antropometría de la descendencia. Metodología: se utilizó información de expedientes médicos y cuestionarios para obtener el IMC antes del embarazo (categorizado como normal, con sobrepeso y obesidad), GPG y Hb durante el embarazo; en el momento del parto y posparto se obtuvieron medidas antropométricas para la descendencia de una submuestra de mujeres embarazadas (n = 108) y su descendencia (n = 63) de una cohorte mexicana. Los modelos de regresión ajustados predijeron los niveles de Hb según IMC y GPG antes del embarazo; se compararon las trayectorias de crecimiento de la descendencia desde el nacimiento hasta los 3 meses de edad según el estado de IMC de la madre y las combinaciones de anemia en el momento del parto. Resultados: peso preembarazo normal (N), sobrepeso (SP) y obesidad (OB) estuvieron presentes en 48 %, 40 % y 12 % de las participantes, respectivamente. Se diagnosticó anemia en el 22,8 % de las participantes en el tercer trimestre. Los niveles de Hb en el tercer trimestre fueron significativamente más bajos en aquellas con IMC-OB antes del embarazo y GPG excesivo (12,1 g/dL, IC del 95 %: 10,7-13,5) en comparación con aquellas con IMC-OB antes del embarazo y GPG insuficiente (13,3 g/dl, IC del 95 %: 11,9-14,8) (p = 0,04). Al momento del parto, el 11 % presentó OB-BMI y anemia. Las mujeres con OB-BMI y niveles normales de Hb tenían hijos con puntuaciones más altas en puntuación Z de peso para longitud y pliegue cutáneo del tríceps. Conclusión: la GPG excesiva entre las mujeres OB se asoció con niveles más bajos de Hb en el tercer trimestre. Los recién nacidos tenían puntajes más altos en los patrones de crecimiento relacionados con la adiposidad desde el nacimiento hasta los 3 meses de edad si las madres tenían niveles normales de Hb y OB.

Strategies to promote health behaviors in parents with small children-A systematic review and realist synthesis of behavioral interventions.

In this systematic review and realist synthesis, we aimed to identify strategies to improve dietary and physical activity behaviors for parents with small children. A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO in July 2021. Included studies had to: (i) target one or both parents with at least one child (0-3 years), (ii) aim to improve diet and physical activity, and (iii) report on diet and physical activity outcomes. Intervention context, delivery, and outcomes were extracted, and behavior change techniques were coded. A program theory was developed, and context-mechanism-outcome configurations were identified. In total, 17 interventions reported in 28 studies (19 effectiveness studies; nine protocols) were included. Nine interventions showed small improvements: in diet (n = 5), physical activity (n = 2), or both (n = 2) in mothers. The realist synthesis revealed three strategies to improve health behaviors: (1) using knowledge and role modelling to improve family dynamics, (2) providing various home-based activities to change home environment, and (3) offering flexible delivery, for example, phone or website-based to increase social support. Future interventions for parents with small children should consider involving the whole family, focusing on home-based and practical components, and offering various delivery modes. The protocol for the systematic review and realist synthesis was registered in Research Registry (registration ID: reviewregistry860) March 30th, 2020.

Migration, Gestational Diabetes, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Nationwide Study of Singleton Deliveries in Denmark.

CONTEXT: It remains unclear if migrants have different odds for adverse outcomes associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). OBJECTIVE: We investigated if the associations between GDM and adverse pregnancy outcomes are modified by country of origin and examined the odds of these outcomes according to GDM status and country of origin. METHODS: Data were extracted from a nationwide register-based study of singleton deliveries in Denmark, 2004-2015. We used logistic regression models and tested for interaction. RESULTS: Among the 710 413 singleton deliveries, 2.6% had GDM and 14.4% were immigrants. Country of origin modified the association between GDM and pre-eclampsia, large for gestational age (LGA), and small for gestational age (SGA) but not between GDM and planned or emergency cesarean section and preterm delivery. GDM increased the risk of pre-eclampsia among women from Denmark (OR 1.28; 95% CI, 1.18-1.39), Lebanon (OR 3.34; 95% CI, 1.35-8.26), and Morocco (OR 2.28; 95% CI, 1.16-6.88). GDM was associated with increased odds of LGA among women from most countries, particularly women from Sri Lanka (OR 4.20; 95% CI, 2.67-6.61), and was associated with reduced odds of SGA in some countries. Compared with Danish-born women with GDM, the odds of LGA were significantly lower and the odds of SGA higher among women with GDM from India, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iraq, and Somalia. CONCLUSIONS: Our study documents that different immigrant groups have higher odds of different GDM-associated adverse pregnancy outcomes and also among countries of origin often grouped together. This highlights the importance of increased awareness to both immigrant background and GDM status in the clinical assessment.

"If I Don't Eat Enough, I Won't Be Healthy". Women's Experiences with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Treatment in Rural and Urban South India.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with a range of adverse pregnancy outcomes as well as increased risk of future type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In India, 10%-35% of pregnant women develop GDM. In this study, we investigated women's experiences with the dietary and pharmaceutical treatment for GDM in rural and urban Tamil Nadu, India. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 women diagnosed with GDM. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Three overall aspects were discovered with several sub-aspects characterizing women's experiences: emotional challenges (fear and apprehension for the baby' health and struggling to accept a treatment seen as counterintuitive to being safe and healthy), interpersonal challenges (managing treatment in the near social relations and social support, and coordinating treatment with work and social life), and health system-related challenges (availability and cost of treatment, interaction with health care providers). Some aspects acted as barriers. However, social support and positive, high-quality interactions with health care providers could mitigate some of these barriers and facilitate the treatment process. Greater efforts at awareness creation in the social environment and systemic adjustments in care delivery targeting the individual, family, community and health system levels are needed in order to ensure that women with GDM have the opportunity to access treatment and are enabled and motivated to follow it as well.

Gestational Diabetes Risk in Migrants. A Nationwide, Register-Based Study of all Births in Denmark 2004 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Much remains to be understood about socioeconomic position and body mass index (BMI) in the pathways linking ethnicity, migration, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We investigated differences in GDM prevalence according to maternal country of origin and the role played by socioeconomic position and BMI on this relationship. Finally, we examined how length of residency was associated with GDM. METHODS: A register-based cohort study of the 725 482 pregnancies that resulted in a birth in Denmark, 2004 to 2015. Of these, 14.4% were by women who had migrated to Denmark. A GDM diagnosis was registered in 19 386 (2.7%) pregnancies, of which 4464 (23.0%) were in immigrant women. The crude risk of GDM according to maternal country of origin compared to Danish-born women ranged from an odds ratio (OR) of 0.50 (95% CI 0.34-0.71) for women from Sweden to an OR of 5.11 (95% CI 4.28-6.11) for women from Sri Lanka. Adjustment for socioeconomic position slightly attenuated the risks. Adjusting for BMI resulted in increased ORs for women, especially from Asian countries. The separate and joint effects of migration and overweight on GDM risk differed substantially between the countries of origin (P value interaction term < .001). Immigrants with 10 or more years of residency had a 56% increased risk of GDM (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.44-1.68) compared to immigrants with less than 5 years in Denmark. This risk was somewhat diluted when adjusting for age and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates substantial variation in the risk of GDM according to country of origin. The risk associations are only slightly affected by socioeconomic position and BMI.

Barriers and facilitators for implementing programmes and services to address hyperglycaemia in pregnancy in low and middle income countries: A systematic review.

AIMS: An estimated 87.6% of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy cases are in low and middle income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study is to review the evidence on barriers and facilitators to programmes and services addressing hyperglycaemia in pregnancy in LMICs. METHODS: A systematic review and narrative synthesis was conducted based on searches in PubMed. A total of 23 qualitative and quantitative studies were included. RESULTS: Barriers and facilitators exist at the health system level, individual level and social and societal levels and are often interacting. At the health system level they relate to capacity in terms of human and material resources; availability of feasible and appropriate guidelines; organisational management and referral pathways. Individual level barriers and facilitators include knowledge; risk perception; illness beliefs; financial condition; work obligations; concerns for the baby and hardship associated with services. At the social and societal level important factors are: perceptions and norms related to women's roles, mobility and health; the knowledge and support of women's social network; and structural aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous factors influence programmes and services addressing hyperglycaemia in pregnancy in LMICs. Thus, several components are needed to ensure detection, treatment and follow-up of women with hyperglycaemia in pregnancy.

Achieving penetration and participation in diabetes after pregnancy prevention interventions following gestational diabetes: A health promotion challenge.

AIM: Health behaviour change interventions have potential to reduce diabetes after pregnancy (DAP) rates following gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Recruitment success is arguably as important as intervention effectiveness, but receives less attention. We examined penetration into target populations and participation in DAP prevention interventions in women with a GDM history. METHODS: Five databases were searched for studies published up to December 2017. Studies were reviewed by at least three reviewers and data were qualitatively synthesized. Penetration (invited/target population) and participation (enrolled/invited) rates were calculated after data extraction. RESULTS: Among 2859 records, 33 intervention studies were identified, among which 16 had sufficient information to calculate penetration or participation. Penetration proportion (n = 9 studies) was between 85 and 100% for two-thirds of studies included. Participation proportion (n = 16 studies) varied substantially; when recruitment occurred during pregnancy or early postpartum, participation was 40% or more, especially if face-to-face contact was used within the GDM care setting, compared to under 15% in mid/late postpartum with mailed invitation and/or telephone contact. CONCLUSIONS: Although penetration and participation reporting is sub-optimal, penetration is generally high while participation is variable. Leveraging and structuring recruitment within standard GDM care and settings appears to be important to engage women in DAP prevention activities.

Risk Factors for Hyperglycaemia in Pregnancy in Tamil Nadu, India.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperglycaemia in pregnancy (HIP), i.e. gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and diabetes in pregnancy (DIP), increases the risk of various short- and long-term adverse outcomes. However, much remains to be understood about the role of different risk factors in development of HIP. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this observational study were to examine the role of potential risk factors for HIP, and to investigate whether any single or accumulated risk factor(s) could be used to predict HIP among women attending GDM screening at three centres in urban, semi-urban and rural Tamil Nadu, India. METHODOLOGY: Pregnant women underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Data on potential risk factors was collected and analysed using logistical regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were calculated for significant risk factors and a risk factor scoring variable was constructed. RESULTS: HIP was prevalent in 18.9% of the study population (16.3% GDM; 2.6% DIP). Increasing age and BMI as well as having a mother only or both parents with diabetes were significant independent risk factors for HIP. Among women attending the rural health centre a doubling of income corresponded to an 80% increased risk of HIP (OR 1.80, 95%CI 1.10-2.93; p = 0.019), whereas it was not significantly associated with HIP among women attending the other health centres. The performance of the individual risk factors and the constructed scoring variable differed substantially between the three health centres, but none of them were good enough to discriminate between those with and without HIP. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of socio-economic circumstances and intergenerational risk transmission in the occurrence of HIP as well as the need for universal screening.

Primary Health Care: a strategic framework for the prevention and control of chronic non-communicable disease.

In 2014, chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent the leading causes of global mortality and disability. Government-level concern, and resulting policy changes, are manifesting. However, there continues to be a paucity of guiding frameworks for legislative measures. The surge of NCDs will require strong and effective governance responses, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Simultaneously following the 2008 World Health Report, there has recently been renewed interest in Primary Health Care (PHC) and its core principles. With this, has come strengthened support for revitalizing this approach, which aims for equitable and cost-effective population-health attainment. In this light and reflecting recent major global reports, declarations and events, we propose and critique a PHC approach to NCDs, highlighting PHC, with its core themes, as a valuable guiding framework for health promotion and policy addressing this group of diseases. Responsible Editors: Nawi Ng, Umeå University, Sweden and Julia Schröders, Umeå University, Sweden.

Key barriers to the use of modern contraceptives among women in Albania: a qualitative study.

In spite of a number of communication campaigns since 1999 promoting modern contraceptives in Albania, their use remains low. In this paper we identify and analyse key barriers to the use of modern contraception among women in Albania. Semi-structured interviews with 11 stakeholders from organisations involved in promoting modern contraception, and four focus group discussions with 40 women from Tirana and a rural village in the periphery of Tirana, divided according to age and residence, were also conducted. Content analysis was used to analyse both the interviews and focus group discussions. Barriers identified included socio-cultural issues such as status of the relationship with partners and the importance of virginity, problems talking about sexual issues and contraception being taboo, health care issues--especially cost and availability--and individual issues such as unfavourable social attitudes towards contraceptives and a lack of knowledge about the use and benefits of modern contraception. To promote contraceptive use in the future, campaigns should address these barriers and expand from a focus on women of reproductive age only to target youth, men, health care providers, parents and schoolteachers as well.