Healthcare Providers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards Exercise during Pregnancy: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Exercising during pregnancy can provide physical and mental health benefits for expectant mothers. Purpose: To assess healthcare providers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding exercise during pregnancy in hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sample comprised (142) healthcare providers who work in four public hospitals in the southern region of Jordan. Descriptive analysis and inferential statistics were used to answer the research questions. Results: The results showed that some of the participants (39.4%) were familiar with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guidelines for exercise during pregnancy, while the majority of participants were knowledgeable about the benefits of exercise during pregnancy. Healthcare providers’ attitudes were positive. Regarding the level of practice, the findings showed that approximately 50.7% of the participants provided advice about exercise. Demographic characteristics had no significant correlation with healthcare providers’ attitudes. Conclusion: Although healthcare providers' attitudes towards exercise during pregnancy were positive, not everyone knew of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ guidelines. Implications for Nursing: Healthcare Providers should undertake workshops and lectures and then highlight the need to practice exercise during pregnancy, also they should start by making a full and comprehensive assessment of the pregnant woman and then provide appropriate advice as advocated by the WHO and ACOG guidelines. Educational programmes, booklets and pamphlets should be available for free in all the hospitals and maternal healthcare centres to increase awareness among women in the community. Keywords: Attitudes, Exercise, Healthcare providers, Knowledge, Practices, Pregnancy