Abstract
The relationship between exercise or physical activity and women reproductive health is a controversial issue especially characterized by lack of understanding on the type of physical activity or exercise and the exact effect on expectant women. This is evidenced by lack of medical guidelines on exercise in pregnancy up to 1985.The traditional medical view ruled out exercise for expectant mothers. The society in general prevented girls from participating in exercise for fear that it might compromise their potential as future mothers. However recent research show that exercise during pregnancy has benefits to the mother and foetus. Modern medicine appreciates that both expectant mothers need exercise for good health. The study assessed the knowledge and attitude of expectant mothers on benefits of exercise during pregnancy. A descriptive survey research design sought information from 306 expectant mothers of 15 -39 years attending antenatal clinics in selected medical facilities of Kakamega County in Kenya. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from the subjects on maternal characteristics and knowledge on benefits of exercise during pregnancy. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the level of knowledge and perceived benefits of exercise during pregnancy. The results showed majority of the subjects were between 20-24 years (33.3%). 17% of the sampled population did not know that exercise was useful in pregnancy despite 71.6% having been active in sports while in school. The subjects showed knowledge of exercise in, preventing incontinence (80.4%), decreased risk of pre-eclampsia (71.6%) and decreasing the risk of gestational diabetes and hypertension at 65.7% and 68.6% respectively. The results indicated that there was strong association between the level of education and, knowledge (X2 (3, N=306) =39.109, p=0.02) in the role of exercise during pregnancy. Therefore it is important to note that the level of education is important for quality pregnancy.
Highlights
Physical Activity (PA) is widely accepted as being beneficial to the health of a person and its regular participation has become an important component of a healthy lifestyle [1,2] Exercise as a type of physical activity is a planned structured and repetitive bodily movement requiring physical or mental effort done to improve health [3]
While exercise is beneficial to the health of individuals across the ages [4], it is even more critical for expectant women because partially a sedentary lifestyle places them at increases risks of pregnancy related health complications and compromised baby health
Three hundred and six (306) subjects participated in the study.168 (54.9%) of the total respondents were within the range of 15–24 years, 114 (37.2%) were within the age range of (25–34) years and 24 (7.8%) of the respondents were above the age of 34 years old
Summary
Physical Activity (PA) is widely accepted as being beneficial to the health of a person and its regular participation has become an important component of a healthy lifestyle [1,2] Exercise as a type of physical activity is a planned structured and repetitive bodily movement requiring physical or mental effort done to improve health [3]. While exercise is beneficial to the health of individuals across the ages [4], it is even more critical for expectant women because partially a sedentary lifestyle places them at increases risks of pregnancy related health complications and compromised baby health. For many decades the relationship between exercise and women reproductive health has been a controversial issue with skepticism over safety and the benefits in pregnancy. Modern medicine appreciates that expectant mothers need exercise for good health. Emerging evidence show that relevant exercises can be initiated and continued in pregnancy as it is safe and of significant benefits to a mother and foetus [7,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
