Fetal Macrosomia And Associated Factors at The National Hospital Center of Pikine (CHNP) Dakar/ Senegal

Abstract

Introduction: Fetal macrosomia is a major risk factor for perinatal and maternal morbidity
and mortality in developing countries such as Senegal. With this in mind, the objectives
of our study were to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and evolutionary
characteristics of macrosomic newborns admitted to the Pikine National Hospital Center and
to study the factors associated with macrosomia.

Materials and methods: This was a prospective study conducted over a period of 6 months,
from 1 December 2021 to 30 June 2022 at the CHN of Pikine.

Results: The hospital prevalence was 4.79%. The most represented maternal age group was
between 25 and 35 years. The medical-obstetric pathologies during pregnancy were dominated
by gestational diabetes (46.1%). The average maternal body mass index (BMI) during
pregnancy was 28.47 ± 4.7 kg/m². The majority of macrosomic babies were born at term.
Macrosomia was Grade 1 in 75.65% of cases. The main complications were hypoglycaemia
and obstetric trauma. Cardiac abnormalities were found in newborns of diabetic mothers.
Mortality was 2.61%. Factors that were significantly associated with macrosomia were:
multiple gestations, multiple pregnancies and a history of macrosomia.

Conclusion and recommendations: Even if its incidence seems low compared to LBW,
fetal macrosomia can lead to obstetrical and neonatal complications that can be dramatic
for the mother and/or the newborn; hence the need to ensure their prevention through better
monitoring of pregnancy and delivery in all pregnant women at risk.