Psychosocial risk factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus. Systematic review

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a disease with fatal, disabling, and costly consequences for individuals, families, communities and countries. To systematically establish the psychosocial risk factors associated with GDM that should be monitored during and after pregnancy. Systematic review in PubMed/Medline and Cochrane databases. 1188 articles were found and 41 were selected. Some main themes were conflicts with cultural practices, social stigma, ethnicity/race influence, low educational level, sleep quality, breastfeeding problems, concern for one's own health/baby, low perception of the risk of GDM/DM2 in the future, stress, anxiety and depression, limited knowledge, lack of support from the partner/family/social and health professionals, low levels of self-care/self-efficacy and difficulties with changes in the lifestyle. These factors should be monitored in pregnant women during and after delivery. Treatments should consider the psychological impact and the risk of developing DM2 after childbirth and should be included in clinical practice guidelines. Multi-ethnic populations and the most demographically and socioeconomically vulnerable groups are more susceptible to developing GDM.