Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health

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Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2016, Pages 267 - 275

Predictors of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy

Authors
Lily A. van Bilsena, 1, Ary I. Savitrib, *, 1, a.i.savitri@umcutrecht.nl, Dwirani Ameliac, Mohammad Baharuddinc, Diederick E. Grobbeeb, Cuno S.P.M. Uiterwaalb
aLeiden University College The Hague, Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, Leiden University, The Hague, The Netherlands
bJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Julius Global Health, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
cMaternal and Child Care, Budi Kemuliaan Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
1

Contributed equally to the manuscript.

*Address: University Medical Center Utrecht, Division Julius Centrum Huispost Stratenum 6.131, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Corresponding Author
Received 25 February 2016, Revised 20 May 2016, Accepted 5 June 2016, Available Online 30 June 2016.
DOI
10.1016/j.jegh.2016.06.002How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Motivations; Predictors; Pregnancy; Ramadan fasting
Abstract

Although the health effects of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy are still unclear, it is important to identify the predictors and motivational factors involved in women’s decision to observe the fast. We investigated these factors in a cross sectional study of 187 pregnant Muslim women who attended antenatal care visits in the Budi Kemuliaan Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. The odds of adherence to fasting were reduced by 4% for every week increase in gestational age during Ramadan [odds ratio (OR) 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92, 1.00; p = 0.06] and increased by 10% for every one unit increase of women’s prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.10; 95% CI 0.99, 1.23; p = 0.08). Nonparticipation was associated with opposition from husbands (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.14, 0.82; p = 0.02) and with women’s fear of possible adverse effects of fasting on their own or the baby’s health (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.22, 1.01; p = 0.05 and OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.21, 0.89; p = 0.02, respectively), although they were attenuated in multivariable analysis. Neither age, income, education, employment, parity, experience of morning sickness, nor fasting during pregnancy outside of Ramadan determined fasting during pregnancy. Linear regression analysis within women who fasted showed that the number of days fasted were inversely associated with women’s gestational age, fear of possible adverse effects of fasting on their own or the fetal health, and with opposition from husbands. In conclusion, earlier gestational age during Ramadan, husband’s opinion and possibly higher prepregnancy BMI, influence women’s adherence to Ramadan fasting during pregnancy. Fear of adverse health effects of Ramadan fasting is common in both fasting and non-fasting pregnant women.

Copyright
© 2016 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue
6 - 4
Pages
267 - 275
Publication Date
2016/06/30
ISSN (Online)
2210-6014
ISSN (Print)
2210-6006
DOI
10.1016/j.jegh.2016.06.002How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2016 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Lily A. van Bilsen
AU  - Ary I. Savitri
AU  - Dwirani Amelia
AU  - Mohammad Baharuddin
AU  - Diederick E. Grobbee
AU  - Cuno S.P.M. Uiterwaal
PY  - 2016
DA  - 2016/06/30
TI  - Predictors of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 267
EP  - 275
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2016.06.002
DO  - 10.1016/j.jegh.2016.06.002
ID  - vanBilsen2016
ER  -