Abstract
BACKGROUND: Food insecurity (FI) during pregnancy negatively impacts maternal health and raises the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), resulting in adverse outcomes for both mother and baby. AIM: To investigate the relationships between FI and pregnancy outcomes, particularly GDM and PIH, while also examining the mediating role of the dietary diversity score (DDS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken to examine this relationship, involving 600 pregnant women. Participants were women aged 18 years or older who provided complete data on FI and pregnancy outcomes. The FI was measured via the Household Food Security Survey Module, with GDM defined as fasting plasma glucose levels of ≥ 5.1 mmol/L or a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test value of ≥ 8.5 mmol/L. The DDS is determined by evaluating one's food consumption based on nine distinct food groups. A logistic regression model was used to explore the relationship between FI and PIH, and GDM. RESULTS: Seventeen percent of participants reported experiencing FI during pregnancy. The study found a significant association between FI and an elevated risk of GDM [odds ratio (OR) = 3.32, 95%CI: 1.2-5.4]. Once more, food-insecure pregnant women had higher rates of PIH (OR = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.02-0.45) and they also faced a higher likelihood of neonatal complications, such as neonatal intensive care unit's admissions and the birth of infants with extremely low birth weight. The FI was further linked to metabolic disruptions, such as elevated fasting blood sugar (FBS), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Our results indicate that the DDS acts as a significant mediator in the relationship between FI and the incidence of GDM. In particular, the mediation analysis showed that approximately 65% of the effect was mediated through DDS (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the serious challenges that FI presents during pregnancy and its effects on maternal and infant health. Additionally, the study explored how DDS mediates the relationship between FI and the incidence of GDM.