Exploring Pregnant Women's Perceptions and Experiences of Adiposity Measurements in Routine Antenatal Care: A...

Area of Science:

• Maternal health
• Anthropometry
• Pregnancy outcomes

Background:

• Maternal adiposity is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• Current antenatal care often relies solely on body mass index (BMI), which has limitations.
• Broader adiposity measurements may offer a more comprehensive assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore pregnant women's acceptability of incorporating diverse adiposity measurements into early antenatal care.
• To understand women's perceptions to guide effective implementation strategies.
• To assess attitudes towards moving beyond traditional BMI measurements.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with 14 pregnant women.
• Purposive sampling to ensure variation in BMI, age, and parity.
• Thematic analysis guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA).

Main Results:

• Participants viewed BMI as outdated and were generally open to broader adiposity measures.
• Most women experienced minimal emotional discomfort; some anticipated more self-consciousness in first pregnancies.
• Choice, autonomy, informed consent, and clear communication were emphasized as crucial for positive experiences.

Conclusions:

• Expanded adiposity assessments are acceptable in early pregnancy if implemented ethically.
• Prioritizing consent, privacy, emotional safety, and effective communication is essential.
• Successful integration requires staff training and pre-appointment guidance for pregnant women.