Social Determinants Affecting Maternal Lifestyle and Its Correlation With Pregnancy Outcomes in Vulenerable Pregnant Women in Iran: A Cross-sectional Population Study

Purpose: This study aimed to assess socio-economic status (SES) and psychological factors affecting maternal lifestyle and its correlation with adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran from August 2016 to July 2017. 400 eligible vulnerable pregnant women living in five poor regions of Tehran and attending referral hospitals for prenatal care were randomly selected. Data was collected through personal interviews, anthropometric measures, and medical records at 26-30 gestational weeks. Significant findings: There was a high prevalence of obesity (43.8%) among vulnerable women. Women with lower education level and income was significantly associated with more than 5-7 daily serving carbohydrate, sedentary life (OR = 2.25, 95%CI: 0.93-4.57) and being obese (OR = 2.01, 95%CI: 0.4-3.30). Participants with lower income was significantly associated with ≥ 5-7 daily serving carbohydrate (OR = 2.81, 95%CI: 0.002-5.4) and sedentary life. Also, higher perceived stress are positively associated with ≥5-7 daily serving carbohydrate, more intake of caffeine, and smoking compared to mothers with lower psychosocial score. Unhealthy lifestyle, higher body mass index (BMI) and lower social support were significantly associated with risk of maternal and neonatal complications. Conclusion: Multiple unhealthy lifestyles during pregnancy were consistently associated with SES and increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.