Pregnancy Outcomes among Adolescents and Young Adults with Diabetes in Kumasi, Ghana

Authors

  • Dr. Emmanuel Ameyaw Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. image/svg+xml https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5548-9905
  • Dr. Serwah Bonsu Asafo-Agyei Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. image/svg+xml https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0909-0618
  • Dr. Charles Kumi Hammond Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. image/svg+xml https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1482-0419
  • Dr. Samuel Blay Nguah Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. image/svg+xml https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2118-7711
  • Dr. Francis Jojo Moses Kwadzo Damalie Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. image/svg+xml https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8069-8114
  • Dr. Charles Mawunyo Senaya Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. image/svg+xml https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5540-2849
  • Dr. Laila Matogah Adutwum Department of Child Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5165-4784

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35898/ghmj-821213

Keywords:

Adolescents, Diabetes, Pregnancy, Outcomes, Young adults

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy in patients with diabetes is known to be associated with complications. Improving glycaemic control can improve pregnancy outcomes.

Aims: This study assessed pregnancy outcomes among adolescents and young women with diabetes at Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes Clinic, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

Methods: A clinical review involving eighteen children and young women with diabetes who became pregnant during follow-up care at Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes Clinic in Ghana. Girls and young women suspected to be pregnant were referred to antenatal clinic for confirmation. Multidisciplinary care including comprehensive antenatal care was given to each participant throughout the pregnancy. Questionnaire was used to gather demographic and clinical information of participants including pregnancy outcomes.

 Results: A total of eighteen adolescents and young women got pregnant and were included in the study. They were attending school when they got pregnant, 55.6% were in Senior High School, 33.3% were in Junior High School and 11.1% were in Teacher Training College. The mean age at pregnancy was 18.39 years (SD 2.97). Two pregnancies ended in abortion while 16 resulted in 18 live births (14 singleton and 2 twin deliveries). All deliveries were supervised, 56.3% delivered via cesarean section. Two births were preterm, occurring at 30 and 32 weeks of gestation. Neonatal outcomes were generally favorable: all babies were clinically well, 55.6% had 5-minute APGAR (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration) score between 8 and 10, while 44.4% had 5-minute APGAR score between 6 and 7. Only one infant (5.6%) had a congenital malformation. One baby died at one month due to septicemia.

Conclusion: Structured multidisciplinary interventions led to positive pregnancy outcomes among young females with diabetes in Ghana.

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Author Biographies

  • Dr. Emmanuel Ameyaw, Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

    A Pediatric Endocrinologist consultant at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a medical degree from KNUST and Fellowship in general paediatrics from the West African College of Physicians. He has fellowship in paediatric endocrinology from Paediatric Endocrinology Training Center, Nairobi, Kenya.  He is the Founding Head of the Paediatric Endocrine Clinic at KATH.

  • Dr. Serwah Bonsu Asafo-Agyei, Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

    A pediatric endocrinologist consultant and a senior lecturer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. She holds MB ChB from KNUST. She also has a fellowship degree from the West African College of Physicians and another fellowship in paediatric endocrinology from the Paeddiatric Endocrinology Center for West Africa, Lagos, Nigeria. She is currently the Examination officer for the Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, KNUST, Kumasi.

  • Dr. Charles Kumi Hammond, Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

    A pediatric neurologist consultant and senior lecturer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a medical degree from KNUST and an MPhil from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is a fellow of the West African College of Physicians, and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has research interest in pediatric neuroinfections, epilepsy, neuro-disabilities, and adolescent health. He is the 2017 recipient of the Bernard D’Souza Award by the Child Neurology Society. 

  • Dr. Samuel Blay Nguah, Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

    Currently works in the Directorate of Child Health (DCH) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) as a Consultant Pediatrician. He is the head of the Cardio-Pulmonary Unit of DCH, KATH.  He is also the Lead Clinician of DCH, a position that makes him an automatic member of the management team of DCH in KATH. He is therefore involved in the day to day of the running of the DCH. With his extensive experience in pediatric cardiology he has great passion in caring for children with heart diseases. He is in charge of both the inpatient and outpatient Pediatric Cardiology care and clinic at DCH, KATH. He thus runs a clinic that in a sense caters for most part of northern Ghana. 

    He work with an external pediatric cardiology team form Boston, USA,  made up of pediatric cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, intensivists, perfusionists and many, more who come to Ghana on a yearly basis to offer free cardiac surgeries in the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. He is also an adjunct lecturer of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. He mainly lectures the clinical medical students in Pediatric Cardiology. He also organizes clinical teaching for them as well. As a six year fellow of the West African College of Physicians (Pediatrics) he is involved in the teaching of pediatric resident of the Postgraduate Medical College.

  • Dr. Francis Jojo Moses Kwadzo Damalie, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

    A lecturer at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) School of Medical Sciences (SMS) - Kumasi, Senior Specialist Obstetrician and Gynecologist of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) - Kumasi, and the Fertility Consultant of Hallmark Medicals, a Specialist Fertility Hospital in Kumasi. He is also an assistant to The Chair and Faculty of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) - Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.

    He holds Fellowships of The West African College of Surgeons (FWACS) and The Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (FGCS), as well as a Postgraduate Master’s Degree in Reproductive Medicine (MRMed) with Sub-Specialisation in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) from the prestigious University of New South Wales, Australia. He is also a Clinical Fellow of Rotunda: The Centre for Human Reproduction, Mumbai, India, a pioneering training institution in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Dr Damalie has insatiate taste for the validated cutting-edge knowledge and demonstrable skills in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is self-motivated with a passionate zeal to impart knowledge in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

  • Dr. Charles Mawunyo Senaya, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

    A Obstetrician/Gynaecologist consultant and a specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility. He earned his medical degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, and completed his specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. He is a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons. Dr. Senaya also holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Reproductive Medicine from the University of Cape Town and a Subspecialist Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. He also obtained a Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility from the Ghana College of Surgeons. He currently serves as the Head of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. He is also the Head of Training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Faculty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. Additionally, Dr. Senaya is a part-time lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at KNUST.

  • Dr. Laila Matogah Adutwum, Department of Child Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

    A pediatrician specialist and a pediatric Endocrinologist at the Maternal  and child health hospital, Kumasi since July 2017. Adjunct Lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology since 2015. Served as General secretary for Ghana society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (GSPED) since 2020. GSPED provides capacity building for health care professionals nationwide on management of diabetes in children, adolescents and young adults. Contributed to the development of the Ghana national diabetes which was published in 2024. Member of African Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology (ASPAE) since 2018.

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Published

2025-06-06

How to Cite

Ameyaw, E., Asafo-Agyei, S. B., Hammond, C. K., Nguah, S. B., Damalie, F. J. K., Senaya, C. M., & Adutwum, L. M. (2025). Pregnancy Outcomes among Adolescents and Young Adults with Diabetes in Kumasi, Ghana. GHMJ (Global Health Management Journal), 8(2), 200–208. https://doi.org/10.35898/ghmj-821213

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