Evaluación de procesos de una intervención: actividad física durante el embarazo y postparto

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the process of an intervention on physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum. Methods: In the context of a social program that fights extreme poverty, the beneficiaries (n=927) receive an intervention that consists of the promotion of the practice of physical activity, through counseling, workshops, and educational materials. During 2008-9, 2010 and 2012, we visited health units from urban and rural areas, randomly selected from four states of Mexico. Health service providers collected process data during observation of consultations and through the application of questionnaires to the beneficiaries. Four indicators of implementation of the intervention were studied: fidelity to the planned activities, dose delivered to the population, scope of the target population, and reception of the intervention by pregnant women and postpartum women. Results: Health units were visited in the initial (n=91), intermediate (n=47), and final (n=82) stages of the study. The delivered dose showed an implementation level of 81-86%. Fidelity had <50% implementation and significant improvements were observed in most analyzed aspects between the different stages of the study, such as training of health service providers, the supply of materials, counseling, and workshops in health units. Conclusion: Important Implementation and contextual challenges were observed for the effective fulfillment of the intervention of physical activity into primary healthcare services.