Abstract
Physical exercise during postpartum period is beneficial to mothers, and the health gains are abundantly reported. This study characterises the postpartum exercise profile of a group of Nigerian women and reports how their exercise self-efficacies are influenced by sociodemographic characteristics. Participants were women attending the two largest postnatal clinics in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria. A self-developed questionnaire assessed the socio-demographic and exercise profile of participants, while the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale assessed their exercise self-efficacy. About two-third (61.0%) of the participants were not aware that they could undertake physical exercise to enhance postpartum health, and 109 (47.8%) were not engaged in any exercise. Those who exercised did so for less than three days/week, and 89% of the women did not belong to any exercise support group. Exercise self-efficacy was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with being in an exercise programme, age, employment, work hours/week, monthly income, and number of pregnancies. Most of the women were not aware they could engage in postpartum exercise, and about half were not undertaking it. More women with high compared to moderate exercise self-efficacy undertook the exercise. Efforts at increasing awareness, improving exercise self-efficacy and adoption of postpartum exercise are desirable among the Nigerian women.
Highlights
Anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy have the potential to affect the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory system [1]
For those who were engaged in physical exercise, brisk walking appeared to be the most adopted individual form of exercise (16.2%)
That most of the women in this study who were between the ages of 21 and 40 years may indicate the fact that this is the age-bearing range of the women in this study. This finding cannot be interpreted beyond this point because this might as well be by chance since the participants in this study were a sample of postpartum women from only two hospitals in Ibadan
Summary
Anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy have the potential to affect the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory system [1]. Participation in a wide range of recreational activities appears to be safe during pregnancy in the absence of either medical or obstetric complications, and 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise a day on most, if not all, days of the week are recommended for pregnant women [3]. Women who exercise while pregnant have fewer complaints during pregnancy and have improved cardiovascular fitness and improved sense of self; and more than 90% of women who exercise during pregnancy continue to exercise after delivery [4]. Is exercise beneficial during pregnancy but even at the postpartum period which is the few weeks after delivery up to about 24 weeks. Studies have established the importance of regular exercise during the postpartum period [2, 5]. Physical activity during postpartum is both a recommended and an essential contributor to maternal health [7]
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