Determination of Pregnant Women's Physical Activity and Exercise Status During Pregnancy and Affecting Factors

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine pregnant women's physical activity and exercise status during pregnancy and affecting factors. Methods: The research was conducted in a cross-sectional design with 220 low-risk pregnant women who were in their third trimester between March 3 and June 29 2022 at Training and Research Hospital. Research data were collected by face-to-face interview method using the forms developed by the authors. Results: It was seen that among the pregnant women who participated in the research, 35.9% exercised regularly before pregnancy and 25.9% regularly exercised during pregnancy. The most common exercises performed during pregnancy were walking and pilates. The assessment of the physical activity of pregnant women revealed that 80.5% were sedentary. The rate of exercising during pregnancy was 4.04 times (aOR 4.04, 95% CI 1.33-12.27) higher in women with planned pregnancies compared to unplanned pregnancies and 30.57 times higher in women who exercised regularly before pregnancy compared to those who did not do so (aOR 30.57, 95% CI 12.53-74.55). Likewise, compared to those who were obese during pregnancy, non-obese ones were 0.36 times more physically active (aOR 0.36, 95% CI 0.16-0.84). Similarly, it was established that women who exercised before pregnancy were 10.51 times more physically active than those who did not (aOR 10.51, 95% CI 4.60-24.02). Conclusion: In the research, it was concluded that the rates of exercising and being physically active during pregnancy were low, that planned pregnancy and regular exercise before pregnancy increased exercise behavior during pregnancy, and that obesity decreases physical activity.

Keywords

• exercise
• pregnancy
• physical activity
• prenatal care
• midwifery

Kadınların Gebelikleri Süresince Fiziksel Aktivite ve Egzersiz Yapma Durumları ve Etkileyen Faktörler

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada gebe kadınların gebelikleri sürecinde fiziksel aktivite ve egzersiz yapma durumlarını ve etkileyen faktörleri belirlemek amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Araştırma kesitsel olarak, 3 Mart ve 29 Haziran 2022 tarihleri arasında üçüncü trimesterde olan 220 düşük riskli gebe ile bir Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi'nde gerçekleştirildi. Araştırma verileri yazarlar tarafından geliştirilen formlar ile yüz yüze görüşme yöntemiyle toplandı. Bulgular: Araştırmaya katılan gebelerden %35,9’unun gebelik öncesi düzenli egzersiz yaptığı ve %25,9’inin gebelikte düzenli egzersiz yaptığı görüldü. Gebelikte en fazla yapılan egzersizler yürüyüş ve pilates idi. Gebelerin fiziksel aktivitesi değerlendirildiğinde %80,5’inin sedanter olduğu görüldü. Gebelikte egzersiz yapma oranı gebeliği planlı olanlarda planlı olmayanlarla karşılaştırıldığında 4,04 kat (aOR 4,04, %95 GA 1,33-12,27) ve gebelik öncesi düzenli egzersiz yapanlarda yapmayanlara göre 30,57 kat (aOR 30,57, %95 GA 12,53-74,55) daha fazlaydı. Yine gebeliğinde obez olanlarla karşılaştırıldığında obez olmayanların 0,36 kat fiziksel olarak daha aktif oldukları görüldü (aOR 0,36, %95 GA 0,16-0,84). Benzer şekilde gebelik öncesi egzersiz yapan kadınların yapmayanlarla karşılaştırıldığında 10,51 kat fiziksel olarak daha aktif oldukları belirlendi (aOR 10,51, %95 GA 4,60-24,02). Sonuç: Araştırmada gebelikte egzersiz yapma ve fiziksel olarak aktif olma oranlarının düşük olduğu, gebeliğin planlı olması ve gebelik öncesi düzenli egzersiz yapmanın gebelikte egzersiz davranışını artırdığı ve obezitenin fiziksel aktiviteyi azalttığı sonuçlarına varılmıştır.

Keywords

• doğum öncesi bakım
• egzersiz
• ebelik
• fiziksel aktivite
• gebelik

References

1. Díaz-Burrueco JR, Cano-Ibáñez N, Martín-Peláez S, Khan KS, Amezcua-Prieto C. Effects on the maternal-fetal health outcomes of various physical activity types in healthy pregnant women. A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2021;262:203-215. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.05.030.
2. Nagpal TS, Mottola MF. Physical activity throughout pregnancy is key to preventing chronic disease. Reproduction. 2020; 160(5):R111-R118. doi:10.1530/REP-20-0337.
3. Jain P, Srivastava H, Goel N, et al. Effect of antenatal exercises on pulmonary functions and labour outcome in uncomplicated primigravida women: a randomized controlled study. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2015;4(5):1478-1484. doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20150732.
4. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period: ACOG Committee Opinion, Number 804. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2020;135(4):e178-e188. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003772.
5. Hesketh KR, Evenson KR. Prevalence of U.S. Pregnant women meeting 2015 ACOG physical activity guidelines. Am J Prev Med. 2016;51(3):e87-e89. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2016.05.023.
6. World Health Organisation (WHO). (2022). Physical activity-Pregnant and postpartum women. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity#:~:text=All%20pregnant%20and%20postpartum%20women,of%20time%20spent%20being%20sedentary.
7. Dipietro L, Evenson KR, Bloodgood B, et al. Benefits of physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum: an umbrella review. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019;51(6):1292-1302. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000001941.
8. Catov JM, Parker CB, Gibbs BB, et al. Patterns of leisure-time physical activity across pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2018;15(1):68-78. doi:10.1186/s12966-018-0701-5.

9. Harrison AL, Taylor NF, Shields N, Frawley HC. Attitudes, barriers and enablers to physical activity in pregnant women: a systematic review. J Physiother. 2018;64(1):24-32. doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2017.11.012.
10. Davenport MH, Meah VL, Ruchat SM, et al. Impact of prenatal exercise on neonatal and childhood outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(21):1386-1396. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-099836.
11. Patrícia V, De Sousa S, Cury A, Eufrásio LS. The influence of gestational trimester, physical activity practice and weight gain on the low back and pelvic pain intensity in low risk pregnant women. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2019;32(5):671-676. doi:10.3233/BMR-171006.
12. Whitaker KM, Wilcox S, Liu J, Blair SN, Pate RR. Pregnant women’s perceptions of weight gain, physical activity, and nutrition using Theory of Planned Behavior constructs. J Behav Med. 2016;39(1):41-54. doi:10.1007/s10865-015-9672-z.
13. Nguyen CL, Pham NM, Lee AH, et al. Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with a lower prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Vietnam. Acta Diabetol. 2018;55(9):955-962. doi:10.1007/s00592-018-1174-3.
14. Davenport MH, Marchand AA, Mottola MF, et al. Exercise for the prevention and treatment of low back, pelvic girdle and lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2019;53(2):90-98. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-099400.
15. Baker JH, Rothenberger SD, Kline CE, Okun ML. Exercise during early pregnancy is associated with greater sleep continuity. Behavioral Sleep Medicine. 2018;16(5):482-493. doi:10.1080/15402002.2016.1228649.
16. Takami M, Tsuchida A, Takamori A, et al. Effects of physical activity during pregnancy on preterm delivery and mode of delivery: The Japan environment and children’s study, birth cohort study. PLoS One. 2018;13(10):e02066160. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206160.
17. Kader M, Naim-Shuchana S. Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy. Eur J Physiother. 2014;16(1):2-9. doi:10.3109/21679169.2013.861509.
18. Mottola MF, Davenport MH, Ruchat SM, et al. 2019 Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(21):1339-1346. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-100056.
19. Santo EC, Forbes PW, Oken E, Belfort MB. Determinants of physical activity frequency and provider advice during pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017;17(1):1-11. doi:10.1186/s12884-017-1460-z.
20. Nascimento SL, Surita FG, Godoy AC, Kasawara KT, Morais SS. Physical activity patterns and factors related to exercise during pregnancy: A cross sectional study. PLoS One. 2015;10(6):e0128953. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128953.
21. Huberty JL, Buman MP, Leiferman JA, Bushar J, Adams MA. Trajectories of objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time over the course of pregnancy in women self-identified as inactive. Prev Med Rep. 2016;3:353-360. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.04.004.
22. Zhang Y, Dong S, Zuo J, Hu X, Zhang H, Zhao Y. Physical activity level of urban pregnant women in Tianjin, China: a cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e109624. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0109624.
23. Daşıkan Z, Güner Ö, Bozkurt T. Physical activity level and barriers of second and third trimester pregnant women. Health Sciences Journal of Adıyaman University. 2019;5(3):1731-1745. doi:10.30569/adiyamansaglik.643369.
24. Göker A, Yanikkerem E, Topsakal Ö. Determination of the physical activity and quality of life in pregnant women. CBU-SBED: Celal Bayar University-Health Sciences Institute Journal. 2021;8(2):315-322. doi:10.34087/cbusbed.827769.
25. Herold F, Törpel A, Schega L, Müller NG. Functional and/or structural brain changes in response to resistance exercises and resistance training lead to cognitive improvements - A systematic review. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity. 2019;16(1):1676. doi:10.1186/s11556-019-0217-2.
26. Gebregziabher D, Berhe H, Kassa M, Berhanie E. Level of physical activity and associated factors during pregnancy among women who gave birth in Public Zonal Hospitals of Tigray. BMC Res Notes. 2019;12(1):1-6. doi:10.1186/s13104-019-4496-5.
27. Nascimento SL, Surita FG, Cecatti JG. Physical exercise during pregnancy: A systematic review. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2012;24(6):387-394. doi:10.1097/GCO.0b013e328359f131.
28. Artal R, O’Toole M. Guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Br J Sports Med. 2003;37(1):6-12. doi:10.1136/bjsm.37.1.6.
29. Ribeiro CP, Milanez H. Knowledge, attitude and practice of women in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil with respect to physical exercise in pregnancy: A descriptive study. Reprod Health. 2011;8(1):1-7. doi:10.1186/1742-4755-8-31.
30. Negash S, Yusuf L, Gebru DB. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of pregnant mothers regarding exercise during pregnancy in mothers attending ANC at selected health facilities Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021. Journal of Gynecology & Reproductive Medicine. 2022;6(1):22-35. doi:10.33140/jgrm.06.01.05.
31. Tarekegn SM, Lieberman LS, Giedraitis V. Determinants of maternal health service utilization in Ethiopia: Analysis of the 2011 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014;14(1):161. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-14-161.
32. Wado YD, Afework MF, Hindin MJ. Unintended pregnancies and the use of maternal health services in southwestern Ethiopia. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2013;13(1):36. doi:10.1186/1472-698X-13-36.
33. Mottola MF. Physical activity and maternal obesity: Cardiovascular adaptations, exercise recommendations, and pregnancy outcomes. Nutr Rev. 2013;71(1):31-36. doi:10.1111/nure.12064.
34. Renault KM, Nørgaard K, Nilas L, et al. The treatment of obese pregnant women (TOP) study: a randomized controlled trial of the effect of physical activity intervention assessed by pedometer with or without dietary intervention in obese pregnant women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014;210(2): 134.e1-134.e9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2013.09.029.
35. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Obesity in pregnancy: ACOG practice bulletin, Number 230. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2021;137(6):e128-e144. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004395.