Abstract
Background. Engagement in physical exercise in pregnancy is hamstrung by safety concerns, skepticism about usefulness, and limited individualized prescription guidelines. This study assessed knowledge and attitude of pregnant women towards antenatal exercises (ANEx). Methods. The cross-sectional study recruited 189 pregnant women from six selected antenatal clinics in Ile-Ife, South-West, Nigeria. Data were obtained on maternal characteristics, knowledge, and attitude towards ANEx. Results. Relaxation and breathing (59.8%), back care (51.3%), and muscle strengthening (51.3%) exercises were the most commonly known ANEx. Prevention of back pain risk (75.9%) and excess weight gain (69.1%) were perceived as benefits, while lower extremities swelling (31.8%) and extreme weight gain or loss (30.7%) were considered as contraindications to ANEx. 15.8% of the respondents had negative attitude towards ANEx resulting from insufficient information on exercise (83.3%) and tiredness (70.0%). Age significantly influences knowledge about contraindications to ANEx (P = 0.001), while attitude was influenced by age and occupation, respectively (P < 0.05). There was significant association between attitude and knowledge about benefits and contraindications to ANEx (P < 0.05). Conclusion. A majority of Nigerian pregnant women demonstrated inadequate knowledge but had positive attitude towards ANEx. Knowledge about benefits and contraindications to ANEx significantly influenced the attitude towards exercise in pregnancy.
Highlights
Engagement in physical exercise in pregnancy is hamstrung by safety concerns, skepticism about usefulness, and limited individualized prescription guidelines
The respondents were recruited from six selected hospitals, namely, Urban Comprehensive Health Centre, Enuwa Primary Health centre, Comprehensive Health centre Aderemi, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Health Centre, OAU Teaching Hospitals Complex, and Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife, Osun state, South-West, Nigeria
Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the Institute of Public Health, OAU, Ile-Ife, Nigeria (IPHOAU/12/13)
Summary
Engagement in physical exercise in pregnancy is hamstrung by safety concerns, skepticism about usefulness, and limited individualized prescription guidelines. This study assessed knowledge and attitude of pregnant women towards antenatal exercises (ANEx). Data were obtained on maternal characteristics, knowledge, and attitude towards ANEx. Results. A majority of Nigerian pregnant women demonstrated inadequate knowledge but had positive attitude towards ANEx. Knowledge about benefits and contraindications to ANEx significantly influenced the attitude towards exercise in pregnancy. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists [3] recommended that pregnant women can exercise moderately for 30 minutes on most days of the week. In accordance with these recommendations, irrespective of the pregnant woman’s physical fitness level, exercise should be low-impact, moderate-intensity, and regular [3, 7]. Exercise in pregnancy is ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology correlated with a decrease in many common problems of pregnancy [14] and the stress of exercises produces certain adaptation such as healthier placenta and increased ability to deal with short decrease in oxygen [15]
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