• Nazli Hossain, Mahwish Samuel, Saba Mughal, and Kashif Shafique.
• Nazli Hossain, FCPS, MBE. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Unit II, Dow Medical College & Ruth Pfau KM Civil Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2021 Sep 1; 37 (5): 1262-1267.

ObjectivesTo see perception and knowledge of women about Ramadan fasting and maternal effects of fasting.MethodsThe study design was prospective, case-controlled. This study was conducted at Holy Family Hospital from 1st May 2020 to July 2020. Pregnant women with spontaneous conception and singleton pregnancies, who fasted for seven or more days, were cases, and those who did not fast were taken as controls. Questionnaire was filled regarding perception of women about maternal fasting. Primary maternal outcomes included preterm delivery, pregnancy induced hypertension, and gestational diabetes mellitus. The analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16.0.ResultsA total of 215 women were included in the study, 123 women fasted, and 92 women did not fast. Only 2.8% of women knew that fasting is forbidden in pregnancy. Sixty five percent of women reported weakness as the main reason for not fasting. The rate of gestational diabetes, pregnancy induced hypertension and preterm delivery was higher among women who fasted (17% vs 14%, 7% vs 2%, 9% vs 9%) respectively, compared to non-fasting women, but were not found statistically significant. There was no difference in anthropometric measurements of newborn, among both groups.ConclusionRamadan fasting does not affect maternal outcomes during pregnancy.Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.

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