scholarly journals Assessment of physical activity status among pregnant women in southwestern China

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Nan Yin ◽  
Yan Huang ◽  
Xing-Hui Liu ◽  
Bi-Ru Luo

Abstract Objective To assess the patterns and intensities of physical activity among pregnant women in southwestern China, which help us create a fitness regimen based on the 2002 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines for exercise during pregnancy. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed to recruit pregnant women at a prenatal checking visit clinic with the self-administered Chinese version of Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ). Results A total of 1179 Chinese pregnant women were enrolled, of whom 92.60% were classified as not meeting the ACOG guidelines. By intensity, 47.36% of the score was attributed to light-intensity activities (1.5 to <3.0 metabolic equivalent [MET]) in the first trimester; the other 2 trimesters were similar. By patterns, about 45.15% of the score was attributed to inactivity. More than 82.35% of enrolled pregnant women regarded slowly walking as the most common type of exercise during pregnancy. Conclusions This study represents a group of Chinese women who maintained an inactive lifestyle, including low-intensity activities and unitary type of exercises during their pregnancy. Health-care providers are advised to provide appropriate physical activity guidelines to pregnant women. Development of MET-hours/week recommendations is warranted to promote greater physical activity during pregnancy.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Najmieh Saadati ◽  
Poorandokht Afshari ◽  
Hatam Boostani ◽  
Maryam Beheshtinasab ◽  
Parvin Abedi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many countries around the world and Iran was no exception. The aim of this study was to evaluate health anxiety of Iranian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 300 pregnant women in different trimesters (n = 100 in each trimester) were recruited. A demographic questionnaire and the Health Anxiety Questionnaire were used to collect data. Scores of < 27, 27–34 and more than 35 were defined as low, moderate and high health anxiety, respectively. Due to nationwide restrictions, data were collected through social media groups. Chi-square tests, ANOVA and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results Mean (SD) total anxiety scores were 22.3 ± 9.5, 24.6 ± 9.3 and 25.4 ± 10.6 in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. 9, 13 and 21% of women had severe anxiety in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. Women in the third trimester had significantly higher health anxiety scores than those in the first trimester (p = 0.045). Conclusion At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were more worried about consequences of disease, but total health anxiety scores were significantly higher among women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Health care providers should pay more attention to the mental health of pregnant women in times of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mansoor Ahmed ◽  
Hyea Bin Im ◽  
Jung Hye Hwang ◽  
Dongwoon Han

Abstract Background Pregnant women’s disclosure of herbal medicine (HM) use to their health care providers during pregnancy is crucial, as misuse of HM can have a detrimental effect on both pregnant woman and the fetus. However, the lack of disclosure of HM use to physicians remains a public health concern in developing countries such as Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 postpartum women admitted at Maternity and Women’s Hospital located in Kathmandu, Nepal. The survey instrument included 30 questions on the use of HM during pregnancy, sociodemographic and health characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes. Chi-square test and logistic regression were conducted for data analysis using SPSS ver. 21.0., and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. Results 60.3% of respondents used at least one herbal remedy during their previous pregnancy, and the overall disclosure rate of HM use to healthcare providers was 54.6%. Women with secondary education level and four or more antenatal care visits were more likely to disclose their HM use to healthcare providers. Conclusions This study highlights that despite the popular use of HM among pregnant women in Nepal, most women obtained HM-related information from informal sources and did not disclose their HM use to physicians. To ensure the safe use of HM, physicians should integrate questions regarding patients’ HM use into their routine patient assessments to facilitate active communication and improve the quality of care.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najmieh Saadati ◽  
Poorandokht Afshari ◽  
Hatam Boostani ◽  
Maryam Beheshtinasab ◽  
Parvin Abedi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The pandemic of COVID-19 affected many countries around the world and Iran was no exception. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health anxiety of the Iranian pregnant women during the pandemic of the COVID-19. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 300 pregnant women in different trimesters (n=100 in each trimester) were recruited. A demographic questionnaire and the Health Anxiety questionnaire were used to collect the data. The total score < 27 of means low health anxiety, scores between 27-34 mean moderate health anxiety, and scores more than 35 means high health anxiety. Due to nationwide restrictions, data were collected through social media groups. The chi-square, ANOVA and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results: The total score of anxiety was 22.3±9.5, 24.6±9.3 and 25.4±10.6 in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy, respectively. Particularly, 9%, 13% and 21% of the women had severe anxiety or scores≥35 in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy respectively. Pregnant women in the third trimester had significantly higher health anxiety score and higher scores of “total health anxiety” than did those in the first trimester (p=0.045). Conclusion: At the time of the pandemic of COVID-19, women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy were more worried about consequences of disease, but the total score of health anxiety was significantly higher among women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Health care providers should pay more attention to the mental health of pregnant women in times of crises such as Corona pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-92
Author(s):  
Ermioni Tsarna ◽  
Ioanna Mavrommati ◽  
Grigorios Bogdanis ◽  
Olga Triantafillidou ◽  
George Paltoglou ◽  
...  

Introduction: Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy is regarded safe and beneficial in absence of pregnancy complications. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to describe physical activity of pregnant women in Greece and explore if it changes during pregnancy compared to the period before pregnancy. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in a private maternity hospital. Women were asked to fill in an adapted questionnaire based on Pregnant Physical Activity Questionnaire; birth outcomes and anthropometric measurements of the neonate were collected by the research midwife. Results: In our study population of 193 pregnant women, approximately half reported no or minimal physical activity during pregnancy and were less active than current guidelines’ recommendations. Gynaecologist’s opinion regarding exercise during pregnancy was conceived as positive only by a minority of women. Overall, women were less active during pregnancy than before, although they spent more time slowly walking for fun or exercise. Lastly, significant decrease was observed in all occupational activities involving slow or quick walking and lifting weights. Conclusions: These results indicate that systematic counselling of pregnant women regarding physical activity and exercise during pregnancy will be needed to achieve optimal physical activity levels for the majority of women in Greece.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Forough Mortazavi ◽  
Maryam Mehrabadi ◽  
Roya KiaeeTabar

Abstract Background COVID-19 caused some worries among pregnant women. Worries during pregnancy can affect women’s well-being. We investigated worry and well-being and associated factors among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 484 pregnant women using an online questionnaire. Sampling was performed in a period between May 5 and Aug 5, 2020. Inclusion criteria were having a single healthy fetus and having no significant psychological disorder. We collected the data using the Persian versions of the World Health Organization’s Well-Being Index (WHO-5 Well-Being Index) and the Cambridge Worry Scale. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify predictors of women’s worry and well-being. Results The mean total scores of the WHO-5 Well-Being Index and the percentage of WHO-5 score < 50 were 64.9 ± 29.0 and 24.4%, respectively. Predictors of women’s worry are the increased level of fear of COVID-19 (OR = 6.40, p <  0.001), a low family income (OR = 3.41, p <  0.001), employment status (OR = 1.86, p = 0.019), nulliparity (OR = 1.68, p = 0.024), having a COVID-19 infected person among relatives (OR = 2.45, p = 0.036), having a history of abortion (OR = 1.86, p = 0.012), having participated in the study after the first wave of COVID-19 outbreak (OR = 2.328, p = 0.003), and women’s age < 30 year (OR = 2.11, p = 0.002). Predictors of low level of well-being in pregnant women are worry about their own health and relationships (OR = 1.789, p = .017), worry about fetus health (OR = 1.946, p = 0.009), and having at least one infected person with COVID-19 among relatives (OR = 2.135, p = 0.036). Conclusions The percentage of women experiencing a low well-being state was relatively high. This result is worthy of attention by health care providers and policy makers. Providing care and support to pregnant women should have high priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najmieh Saadati ◽  
Poorandokht Afshari ◽  
Hatam Boostani ◽  
Maryam Beheshtinasab ◽  
Parvin Abedi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The pandemic of COVID-19 affected many countries as well as Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health anxiety of the Iranian pregnant women in time of the pandemic of the corona virus. Methods In this cross-sectional study 300 pregnant women in different trimesters (n = 100 in each trimester) were recruited. A demographic questionnaire and the Health Anxiety questionnaire were used to collect data. Because of quarantine data were collected through social media groups. The chi-square, ANOVA and multiple linear regression were used to analyze data. Results The total score of anxiety was 22.3 ± 9.5, 24.6 ± 9.3 and 25.4 ± 10.6 in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy. Totally 9%, 13% and 21% of the women had severe anxiety or scores ≥ 35 in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy respectively. Pregnant women in the third trimester significantly had more health anxiety score than the first trimester ones. Pregnant women in the third trimester had significantly higher scores of “total health anxiety”, in comparison with that of first trimester (p = 0.045). Conclusion At the time of the pandemic of COVID-19, women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy were more worry about consequences of disease, but the total score of health anxiety was significantly more in the women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Health care providers should pay more attention to the mental health of pregnant women in times of crises such as Corona pandemic.


Author(s):  
Jovana Todorovic ◽  
Zorica Terzic-Supic ◽  
Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic ◽  
Pavle Piperac ◽  
Stefan Dugalic ◽  
...  

Background: The benefits of physical activity during pregnancy include lower maternal weight gain, a lower likelihood of gestational diabetes, low back pain, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, caesarian delivery, and macrosomia. This study aimed to examine the factors associated with insufficient leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during the first trimester. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology of Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, between January and June of 2018. The final analyses included 162/175 pregnant women. The questionnaire was used to obtain social characteristics, pregnancy, and lifestyle characteristics (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System—PRAMS), pre-pregnancy LTPA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire—IPAQ), and LTPA during the first trimester (Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire—PPAQ). Women were classified into two groups of sufficient and insufficient LTPA during the first trimester based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied. Results: A total of 27.2% of the women had insufficient LTPA during pregnancy. Insufficient LTPA during pregnancy was associated with <12 years of education (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.05–5.04), self-rated financial status as poor (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14–0.79), and hours spent walking before pregnancy (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77–0.99). Conclusions: Our results can help direct health care professionals advice for women who are planning pregnancy towards walking as it seems to be sustained during pregnancy.


Author(s):  
Reza Khadivi ◽  
Mahshid Nagi ◽  
Asefe Haddadpoor

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of anti-syphilis antibodies in Iranian pregnant women who attended antenatal care (ANC) in 21 districts affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (MUI) from April 2017 to April 2020. Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional study in 2020, the data about anti syphilis antibody were collected from electronic health files of pregnant women. Pregnancy specific health package was delivered to Iranian pregnant women in a horizontally integrated network across the country. The electronic health file was used for every Iranian citizen and all health events were recorded by their health care providers in 2016. All health services, particularly laboratory tests that were performed either in public or private laboratories, that were given to pregnant women needed to be recorded in their electronic health files. According to the pregnancy health package, they were screened initially by Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test. Results: In those years, 70512, 72298, 63272 pregnant women were screened respectively. In these intervals, using the RPR test, no positive cases of anti- syphilis antibody were found. Conclusion: It seems that syphilis infection among Iranian pregnant women who attended ANC in districts affiliated to MUI has reached the elimination phase.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najmieh Saadati ◽  
Poorandokht Afshari ◽  
Hatam Boostani ◽  
Maryam Beheshtinasab ◽  
Parvin Abedi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many countries around the world and Iran was no exception. The aim of this study was to evaluate health anxiety of Iranian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 300 pregnant women in different trimesters (n=100 in each trimester) were recruited. A demographic questionnaire and the Health Anxiety Questionnaire were used to collect data. Scores of <27, 27-34 and more than 35 were defined as low, moderate and high health anxiety, respectively. Due to nationwide restrictions, data were collected through social media groups. Chi-square tests, ANOVA and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Mean (SD) total anxiety scores were 22.3±9.5, 24.6±9.3 and 25.4±10.6 in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. 9%, 13% and 21% of women had severe anxiety in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. Women in the third trimester had significantly higher health anxiety scores than those in the first trimester (p=0.045). Conclusion: At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were more worried about consequences of disease, but total health anxiety scores were significantly higher among women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Health care providers should pay more attention to the mental health of pregnant women in times of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.


Author(s):  
S. Anil Bindu Sukumaran ◽  
L. Manju ◽  
Divija Vijith ◽  
Regi Jose ◽  
Meghana Narendran ◽  
...  

Even though pregnant women are more prone to have severe COVID 19, few studies have been conducted on their protective behaviours against this disease in our country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fear of getting COVID infection may prevent antenatal women from visiting hospitals for routine antenatal checkups and utilization of telemedicine may be an alternative to get connected with their health care providers during the pandemic. Aims: To evaluate the protective behaviour adopted by pregnant women during the COVID pandemic and their utilization of teleconsultation for antenatal care. Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending three selected hospitals in Trivandrum District in Kerala during May to August 2020. The data was collected from a random sample of 252 pregnant women registered in these hospitals using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Around 89% of pregnant women had adopted good practice to protect themselves against the COVID 19. About 94% wore a mask whenever they went outside. About 72% completely avoided crowded place. About 72% had rated themselves to have good or very good knowledge regarding protective measures of COVID 19. Among the pregnant women, 61(24.2%) missed their scheduled antenatal visit once, 32(12.7%) missed twice and 8(3.2% missed three or more times during the pandemic period. Half of the pregnant women utilized telemedicine facility during the pandemic to stay connected with their doctors. But 31% were not aware of telemedicine facility in hospitals, while 1.6% does not have an internet access. Higher age group, current employment status and area of residence was found to be associated with poor practice. Conclusions: Nearly 89% pregnant women adopted good protective measures against COVID19. Measures need to be taken to improve the availability of telemedicine facility in hospitals for antenatal women and to improve awareness about it among public which may help the antenatal women to stay connected with their health care providers during this pandemic.


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