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Akinwande O1, Mbada C2,3, Ojo D4, Awotidebe O5
1University College Hospital, Physiotherapy, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2Obafemi Awolowo University, Medical Rehabilitation, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 3University of Medical Sciences Ondo Nigeria, Physiotherapy, Ondo, Nigeria, 4Oba, Medical Rehabilitation, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 5Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Medical Rehabilitation, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Background: Pregnancy is associated with considerable physiological and psychological changes which may promote sedentary behaviors and/or low levels of Physical Activity (PA).
Purpose: This study assessed levels of PA, as well as, the barriers and facilitators to PA among pregnant women.
Methods: A cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed method design involving concurrent collection of quantitative and qualitative data was carried out. Respondents were drawn from five selected health care facilities. 198 respondents participated in the quantitative aspect of the study. PA was assessed using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Focus group discussions were used to qualitatively explore barriers and facilitators of PA. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic content analysis.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 29.04±3.74 years. Women in third trimester of pregnancy had the highest overall mean in household (45.72±32.99) and occupational PA (10.47±21.62) and the least overall mean in vigorous intensity PA (10.03±13.92). PA during pregnancy were hindered by pregnancy-related symptoms, lack of motivation/company, concerns about the risks of PA engagement for self and baby, time constraints, perception of already being active, lack of money, wrong advice/information, mood and depression, and pervading cultural beliefs and myths. While, some of these barriers were transient, others were reported to be present throughout the pregnancy period. On the other hand, impaired health, time consciousness, self-determination, motivation, social support, financial stability, availability of specialized health personnel and policy for PA and good built environment and neighbourhood were mostly reported as PA enablers.
Conclusion(s): High and low physical activity levels were generally observed in the third and first trimesters among Nigerian pregnant women, while moderate intensity and household related physical activity are the most common types. However, pregnant women seemed averred to vigorous intensity and occupational related physical activity. Contextual facilitators and barriers to PA during pregnancy were largely related to intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental or organizational policy.
Implications: This study provided information on determinant of PA in pregnancy from sub-Sahara Africa context where paucity of data have limited policy for PA engagement.
Keywords: Physical activity, Pregnancy, Nigeria
Funding acknowledgements: There was no funding received in relation to the study.
Purpose: This study assessed levels of PA, as well as, the barriers and facilitators to PA among pregnant women.
Methods: A cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed method design involving concurrent collection of quantitative and qualitative data was carried out. Respondents were drawn from five selected health care facilities. 198 respondents participated in the quantitative aspect of the study. PA was assessed using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Focus group discussions were used to qualitatively explore barriers and facilitators of PA. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic content analysis.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 29.04±3.74 years. Women in third trimester of pregnancy had the highest overall mean in household (45.72±32.99) and occupational PA (10.47±21.62) and the least overall mean in vigorous intensity PA (10.03±13.92). PA during pregnancy were hindered by pregnancy-related symptoms, lack of motivation/company, concerns about the risks of PA engagement for self and baby, time constraints, perception of already being active, lack of money, wrong advice/information, mood and depression, and pervading cultural beliefs and myths. While, some of these barriers were transient, others were reported to be present throughout the pregnancy period. On the other hand, impaired health, time consciousness, self-determination, motivation, social support, financial stability, availability of specialized health personnel and policy for PA and good built environment and neighbourhood were mostly reported as PA enablers.
Conclusion(s): High and low physical activity levels were generally observed in the third and first trimesters among Nigerian pregnant women, while moderate intensity and household related physical activity are the most common types. However, pregnant women seemed averred to vigorous intensity and occupational related physical activity. Contextual facilitators and barriers to PA during pregnancy were largely related to intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental or organizational policy.
Implications: This study provided information on determinant of PA in pregnancy from sub-Sahara Africa context where paucity of data have limited policy for PA engagement.
Keywords: Physical activity, Pregnancy, Nigeria
Funding acknowledgements: There was no funding received in relation to the study.
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Ethics committee: Health Research and Ethics Committee, Institute of Public Health
Ethics number: IPHOAU/12/945
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
