Dr. Aanandita Swami
Dr VIBHA VINOD KUMAR AGARWAL
Abstract:
Obesity (body-mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²) now affects more than 20 % of pregnant women worldwide and is a major driver of adverse obstetric and long-term cardiometabolic outcomes. Because weight loss during gestation is generally discouraged, the window for intervention spans pre-conception optimisation, tailored antenatal surveillance, risk-adapted intrapartum planning, and structured post-partum care. This narrative review synthesises guidelines and primary research published 2020-2025 to outline best-practice management of women with obesity in pregnancy. Core themes are: (1) pre-pregnancy counselling, folic-acid optimisation and bariatric-surgery timing; (2) early first-trimester booking with baseline metabolic assessment; (3) lifestyle, nutritional and pharmacologic strategies that safely limit gestational weight gain to Institute of Medicine (IOM) targets; (4) prevention, screening and treatment of obesity-related complications such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders and venous thrombo-embolism; (5) anaesthetic, operative and neonatal considerations; and (6) post-partum weight-management, lactation support and inter-pregnancy interval planning. Evidence shows that multicomponent lifestyle programmes reduce excessive weight gain by 20-30 % and confer modest improvements in glycaemic control, while higher-dose thromboprophylaxis and ultrasound-guided neuraxial analgesia mitigate intrapartum morbidity. Remaining research gaps include precision nutrition, pharmacotherapy trials and long-term maternal-child cardiometabolic surveillance.
Abubakar I Bapumia, Mohamed Kauli Makame and Werneld Egno Ngongi
Abstract:
This study assessed the compliance with local and international safety regulations for marine vessels operating in Tanzania inland waters. Focusing on Lake Victoria, the study involves a total of 80 respondents including vessel operators, governmental officials, maritime safety inspectors, vessel crew members and maritime regulatory officer. The study employed a mixed-methods approach using structured questionnaires, interviews, and documentary review. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to uncover compliance trends and deficiencies in regulatory enforcement. Findings reveal high awareness and engagement with safety regulations but also highlight major challenges such as limited financial resources, insufficient training, and regulatory capacity gaps. Statistical analyses, including regression and reliability tests, support the presence of strong awareness but identify inconsistencies in enforcement. The results indicated that although awareness of safety regulations is quite high over 60% of respondents showed familiarity with both local and international safety standards compliance is frequently obstructed by logistical and financial challenges. More than 80% of participants acknowledged the significance of inspections, yet inconsistent enforcement and a lack of follow-up were identified as major deficiencies. The study concludes with strategic recommendations for enhancing compliance and safety standards, including targeted training, enhanced inspection practices, and greater regulatory resourcing.