Abstract
BackgroundPregnancy is a good time to develop healthy lifestyle habits including regular exercise and good nutrition. Programs of physical exercise for pregnant women have been recommended; however, there are few references on this subject in the literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of pregnant women with respect to appropriate physical exercise during pregnancy, and also to investigate why some women do not exercise during pregnancy.MethodsA descriptive study was conducted in which 161 women of 18 to 45 years of age were interviewed in the third trimester of pregnancy. These women were receiving prenatal care at National Health Service (SUS) primary healthcare units and had no pathologies for which physical exercise would constitute a risk. The women were selected at an ultrasonography clinic accredited to the SUS in Campinas, São Paulo. A previously elaborated knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) questionnaire was used to collect data, which were then stored in an Epinfo database. Statistical analysis was conducted using Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test to evaluate the association between the study variables (p < 0.05).ResultsAlmost two-thirds (65.6%) of the women were sufficiently informed about the practice of physical exercise during pregnancy and the vast majority (93.8%) was in favor of it. Nevertheless, only just over 20% of the women in this sample exercised adequately. Significant associations were found between an adequate knowledge of physical exercise during pregnancy and education level (p = 0.0014) and between the adequate practice of physical exercise during pregnancy and having had fewer pregnancies (p = 0.0001). Lack of time and feeling tired and uncomfortable were the principal reasons given by the women for not exercising.ConclusionThese results suggest that women's knowledge concerning the practice of physical exercise during pregnancy is reasonable and their attitude is favorable; however, relatively few actually exercise during pregnancy.
Highlights
Pregnancy is a good time to develop healthy lifestyle habits including regular exercise and good nutrition
A descriptive study was conducted in Campinas, a city of approximately 1.5 million inhabitants in the state of São Paulo, Brazil where social development level is good
Between March and August 2009, 161 women who fulfilled the following inclusion criteria were interviewed: age 18-45 years, gestational age ≥ 28 weeks, receiving prenatal care at the primary healthcare units affiliated with the SUS in the city, and having no pathologies that would render physical exercise risky in accordance with ACOG recommendations [2]
Summary
Pregnancy is a good time to develop healthy lifestyle habits including regular exercise and good nutrition. The greater the number of pregnant women who want to participate in sports activities, the Pregnancy is a good time to develop healthy lifestyle habits including regular exercise [1]. With the objective of providing information for physical exercise programs for pregnancy women, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) published recommendations for the safe practice of water or ground-based physical activities during pregnancy. In accordance with these recommendations, irrespective of the pregnant woman’s physical fitness level, exercise should be low-impact, moderate-intensity and regular. Sedentary women should increase their activities gradually and progressively [2]
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