A Correlation between Pregnancy and a Few Attributes - Case Study Example

DATA MINING REPORT Cases analyzed: 350 Selected: randomly INTRODUCTION The report aims at finding a correlation between pregnancy and a few attributes: 1. Correlation between pregnancy and age 2. Correlation between pregnancy, age and plasma glucose 3. Correlation between pregnancy and skin fold 4. Correlation between pregnancy and body mass 5. Correlation between pregnancy and diabetes The report analysed a total of 350 cases and derived at the below mentioned inferences. The researcher has selected the data randomly and the observation is purely based on the data provided. 1. Correlation Between Pregnancy and Age Most of the doctors around the world vote their opinion on women conceiving and getting pregnant at an age of 25 to 30 years. The age band is considered obstinate because women are physically and mentally strong to carry and deliver babies at this stage. After this, in most cases, fertility gradually decreases with age, and it has been widely accepted that there has been more miscarriages at the age of 35 than pregnancy. By the time women enter into there 40s, the chances of becoming pregnant reduce by about 50 per cent. Although, there have been successful pregnancies and healthy babies being delivered at this age group as well, but they run a higher risk of complications than younger women. Most doctors are of the opinion that as women reach their thirties, they experience a decline in fertility. Age-related decline in fertility might result because of decrease in the number and health of the eggs to be ovulated; decrease in sperm counts; decrease in the frequency of intercourse; or due to the presence of other medical and gynecologic conditions, such as endometriosis, which may interfere with conception. Analysis of the data Age Band No. of People Av. Preg 20-25 115 2 26-30 67 3 31-35 42 4 36-40 38 6 41-45 35 8 46-50 15 9 51-55 14 7 56-60 14 7 61-65 6 3 66-70 2 4 Inference As per the data analyzed, apparently women aged from 46-50 years have maximum number of pregnancies recorded in comparison to young girls in the age band of 20-25 years recording merely two pregnancies. The pregnancies also reflects the strata of society that these women belong to, in most cases they are likely to be ill-literate and unaware of precautions such as use of contraceptives. Older Women, at the age of 51 to 60 have also been analyzed with an average of seven pregnancies during a lifetime. Instead of witnessing a reduction in the pregnancy cases with growing age, the data throws out numbers contrary to the perception. Change in lifestyle can also be cited as a reason of rise in late pregnancies. Women these days are also getting into hardcore professional career, which leaves them little time for carrying a pregnancy. Such women prefer to have a child after achieving their career goals. The data also reflects the change in trend in the society. The younger generation in the age group of 20-25 is much more aware about preventive measures like contraceptives. They are also career oriented and want to have a child only after becoming professionally successful. The middle aged women in the age group of 46-50, on the other hand, still projects the domestic outlook, in which, a woman is given the responsibility of household work and child-bearing. 2. Correlation Between Pregnancy, Age and plasma Glucose Glucose levels recorded during pregnancy are generally on a lower scale. Commonly the threshold values for diagnosis of diabetes in pregnancy are lower. In case a woman has two plasma glucose values meeting or exceeding any of the following matrixes she is considered to have gestational diabetes. The above example is explained through the below mentioned figures: a. A fasting plasma glucose level of 95 mg/dL; b. A 1-hour level of 180 mg/dL; c. A 2-hour level of 155 mg/dL; Or d. A 3-hour level of 140 mg/dL. Gestational diabetes occurs when a pregnant woman is not able to produce enough insulin and results in high blood sugar. It is estimated that gestational diabetes affects around two to three percent of pregnant women. Most doctors believe that plasma glucose level during pregnancy is also correlated with age. It is a common perception that the risk of getting gestational diabetes increases in older pregnant women, as compared to the young expectant mothers. Analysis of the data Age Band No. Of People Av. Plasma Glucose 20-25 115 109 26-30 67 122 31-35 42 124 36-40 38 127 41-45 35 126 46-50 15 134 51-55 14 142 56-60 14 148 61-65 6 141 66-70 2 145 Inference Females at the age band of 66-70 years have been recorded to have the highest Plasma Glucose rate thus confirming doctors’ opinion that pregnancy at later stage in life is considered risky. Pregnancy at a later stage in life might result into gestational diabetes and further, can lead to macrosomic pregnancy. The data also highlights that the safest time to get pregnant without encountering the risk of having gestational diabetes is during the age group of 20-25. However, as most women in the above mentioned age group do not prefer to get pregnant so early, therefore, the next safest time to become pregnant is between the ages of 26-30. 3. Correlation Between Pregnancy and skin fold A research was conducted by Medical Research Council Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom, to determine whether women who are poorly nourished in early pregnancy, as determined by triceps skin fold thickness, or who have poor pregnancy weight gain have offspring with higher blood pressure. The research evaluated 296, 11-year-old children born to women who had taken part in a study of nutrition in pregnancy. Women were weighed at 18 and 28 weeks' gestation and had had their triceps skin fold thickness measured at 18 weeks. In the follow-up study, their children were weighed and had their BP recorded. Blood pressure was adjusted for weight, gender, ethnic group, cuff size, and time of measurement. The children's mean (standard deviation [SD]) systolic BP was 106 (12) mmHg and their mean (SD) diastolic BP was 62 (7) mmHg. Maternal triceps skinfold thickness at 18 weeks' gestation and maternal pregnancy weight gain between 18 and 28 weeks' gestation were weakly inversely related to the children's BP. However, among women with triceps skinfold thickness at 18 weeks below the group median (15 mm), reduced pregnancy weight gain was associated with significantly higher BP in the offspring; systolic pressure increased by 11.3 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2, 20.4) and diastolic pressure by 10.1 mmHg (95% CI 3.2, 17.1) for each kilogram-per-week decrease in pregnancy weight gain. Analysis of the data 4. Correlation Between Pregnancy and Body Mass Nutritional status of women is an important predictive indicator of the results of pregnancy. It is perceived that weight gain and pre-pregnancy body mass index as well as maternal obesity have significant influences on the pregnancy outcome. This section aims to show effect of pregnancy body mass index and the corresponding gestational weight gain on the outcome of pregnancy. As per California Birth Defects Monitoring Program, a pregnancy obesity is suggested as a risk factor for having offspring with an abdominal wall defect. The study evaluated this hypothesis among 104 cases of gastroschisis, in which severe birth defect of the abdominal wall were most prevalent in infants of young women and 220 controls with no defect were analysed. Using Quetelet's index (QI = weight in kg/height in m2) as a measure of body mass, the study found a higher risk of gastroschisis (odds ratio (OR) = 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4-7.3) for underweight mothers (QI28.3 kg/m2) as compared with mothers of normal weight. Analysis of the data Age Band No. of People Av. Body Mass 20-25 115 30 26-30 67 33 31-35 42 33 36-40 38 33 41-45 35 34 46-50 15 34 51-55 14 31 56-60 14 30 61-65 6 29 66-70 2 29 Inference Body Mass saw a reduction with increasing age, which confirmed the fact about complications at the older age. Low pre-pregnancy body mass index is an established risk factor for low birth weight. Abnormal gestational weight gain might further complicate the pregnancy as an additional risk factor for neonatal Low birth weight. However, doctors also believe that all women, regardless of their pre-pregnancy body mass weight may be at risk for abnormal weight gain and hence low birth weight. Therefore, pre-pregnancy and gestation nutritional assessments remain significant part of all prenatal visits. 5. Correlation Between Pregnancy and Diabetes Diabetes in pregnancy falls into two main categories namely: Pregnancy in a woman with known NIDDM and Gestational diabetes, which is defined as carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity with its onset, or first recognition, during pregnancy. Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with acute, as well as chronic maternal and fetal complications. With optimal diabetic control prior to, and during pregnancy, complication rates approach those seen in normal pregnancies. Good diabetic control throughout pregnancy as well as improved neonatal management has seen reductions in the incidence of, and the morbidity associated with, conditions characteristically associated with pregnancy in a diabetic women, such as macrosomia, neonatal hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia and renal vein thrombosis. Diabetes in expectant mothers increases the chances of birth defects and other problems for the baby. Gestational diabetes might cause the baby to grow extra large and lead to problems during delivery for the mother and the baby. Gestational diabetes might be controlled through proper health care, diet and exercise. Appropriate health care before and during pregnancy will help prevent birth defects and other outcomes, such as miscarriage or stillbirth. Analysis of the data Age Band No. Of People Av. Diabetes Pedigree 20-25 115 0.43 26-30 67 0.43 31-35 42 0.69 36-40 38 0.42 41-45 35 0.49 46-50 15 0.52 51-55 14 0.47 56-60 14 0.59 61-65 6 0.44 66-70 2 0.50 Inference Women in the age bracket of 31-35 recorded an average of .69 diabetes count, thus suggesting increased complications in carrying a baby. With the growing age, the diabetes count keeps rising and this is the also one of the main causes for miscarriages and abnormal childbirth. ** Av: Average figures CONCLUSION The report found the following inferences: 1. Some of the common perceptions were found true. a. Women getting pregnant at an older age face many complications. b. Most young women, although, in their prime of health, do not prefer to become pregnant so early. c. Change in social trends is also reflected in the number of pregnancies among various age bands. 2. Higher plasma glucose level in the body of a pregnant woman results in gestational diabetes. 3. The report also infers that women with poor pregnancy weight gain have offspring with higher blood pressure. 4. Weight gain and pre-pregnancy body mass index as well as maternal obesity have significant influences on the pregnancy outcome. Read More