High Education Level Women in China: maternal weight and Pregnancy Risks

Abstract Women’s educational interventions affect pregnancy via maternal weight. This retrospective study enrolled 24594 college and above women with singleton live birth. Multivariate logistic regression were performed to evaluate the impact of sociodemographic characteristics on pre-pregnancy body mass index (p-BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) values. Both logistic regression and heat maps were utilized to explore the association between the later factors and adverse pregnancy complications. High education women who were older, natives, above college, assisted reproductive technology, and multiparity tended to have higher p-BMI but control their GWG within the lower range. The multivariate analysis revealed that women who were underweight before pregnancy were at high risk of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA). Overweight was associated with a high risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), macrosomia, and large for gestational age (LGA). Obesity was also associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, GDM, HDP, macrosomia and LGA. Inadequate GWG was associated with a high risk of LBW, SGA, and preterm birth. Excess GWG might be associated with a high risk of macrosomia and LGA. Women with a high educational level common present with a normal BMI before pregnancy and adequate GWG but the percentage of low p-BMI and excess GWG is still high. Abnormal GWG and p-BMI before pregnancy are associated with increased risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. In particular, more responsive preventive measures and effective management approaches are required for women with a high educational level.