scholarly journals Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy in Greece: A cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-92
Author(s):  
Ermioni Tsarna ◽  
Ioanna Mavrommati ◽  
Grigorios Bogdanis ◽  
Olga Triantafillidou ◽  
George Paltoglou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Maternity Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Research Midwife ◽  
Physical Activity And Exercise ◽  
Exercise During Pregnancy

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.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Level during Pregnancy in South Africa: A Facility-Based Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 7928
Author(s):  
Uchenna Benedine Okafor ◽  
Daniel Ter Goon
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Activities

Physical activity participation during pregnancy confers many maternal and foetal health benefits to the woman and her infant and is recommended by various health bodies and institutions. However, in South Africa, scant information exists about the physical activity status and its determinants among pregnant women. The aim of this study was to assess the physical activity level and associated factors among pregnant women. This cross-sectional study enrolled 1082 pregnant women attending public health facilities in Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Information on socio-demographic and maternal characteristics were obtained, and the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess physical activity during pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations between physical activity and the predictor variables during pregnancy. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were applied to estimate factors associated with physical activity levels. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Only 278 of the women (25.7%) met recommendations for prenatal activity (≥150 min moderate intensity exercise per week). The average time spent in moderate–vigorous physical activity was 151.6 min (95% CI: 147.2–156.0). Most of the women participated in light exercises with a mean of 65.9% (95% CI: 64.8–67.0), and 47.6% (95% CI: 46.3–48.9) participated in household activities. The majority of the women did not receive physical activity advice during prenatal care sessions (64.7%). Factors negatively associated with prenatal physical activity were lower age (<19 years) (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 0.3; CI: 0.16–0.76), semi-urban residence (AOR = 0.8; CI: 0.55–1.03), lower educational level (AOR = 0.5; CI: 0.20–0.71), unemployment (AOR = 0.5; CI: 0.29–0.77) and nulliparity (AOR = 0.6; CI: 0.28–1.31). However, prenatal physical activity was positively associated with starting physical activity in the first trimester (AOR = 1.9; CI: 1.06–3.31) compared to other trimesters. The findings of this study demonstrated low levels of physical activity during pregnancy in South Africa. The majority of women did not meet the recommendation of 150 min of moderate intensity activity per week. Light intensity and household activities were the most preferred form of activity. The factors affecting physical activity of women in this present study include lower age, semi-urban setting, low educational level, unemployment and nulliparity. In order to increase activity levels, future work should seek to improve knowledge, access and support for physical activity in pregnant women in South Africa. This should include education and advocacy regarding physical activity for professionals involved in maternal health provision.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Patterns of Women with a Twin Pregnancy—A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7724
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kwiatkowska ◽  
Katarzyna Kosińska-Kaczyńska ◽  
Izabela Walasik ◽  
Agnieszka Osińska ◽  
Iwona Szymusik
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Twin Pregnancy ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Multiple Pregnancy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physically Active

Background: No specific physical activity guidelines are available for women in multiple pregnancy. Aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and experience of women regarding physical activity during their latest twin pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional study including women after a twin delivery was conducted in Poland. A questionnaire was distributed in 2018 via web pages and Facebook groups designed for pregnant women. Results: 652 women filled out the questionnaire completely. Only 25% of women performed any physical exercises during twin gestation. The frequency of preterm delivery was similar in physically active and non-active participants. 35% of the respondents claimed to have gained information on proper activity from obstetricians during antenatal counselling while 11% claimed to be unable to identify the reliable sources of information. 7% of women admitted to feel discriminated by social opinion on exercising during a twin pregnancy. Conclusions: The population of women with a twin gestation is not sufficiently physically active and is often discouraged from performing exercises during gestation. Therefore, it is crucial to inform obstetricians to recommend active lifestyle during a twin gestation and to provide reliable information on physical activity to pregnant women. Further research on this topic is necessary in order for obstetric providers to counsel women on appropriate exercise with a twin pregnancy.

scholarly journals Barriers to Physical Activity Among Pregnant Women During Pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Fatima Aslam ◽  
Karimah Hanim Abd Aziz ◽  
Nurjasmine Aida Jamani ◽  
Razman Mohd Rus
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Epigastric Discomfort ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Mean

Introduction: Co-morbidities such as obesity, gestational diabetes and pregnancy induced hypertension during pregnancy can be dangerous to the mother and foetus. Regular physical activity during pregnancy not only maintains maternal and foetal wellbeing, but it also maintains physical fitness and brings various health benefits. However, many women reduce their physical activity levels during pregnancy.Objectives: Thus, this study aimed to identify the barriers that could prevent pregnant mothers from doing physical activities.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 168 pregnant women aged 18 to 35 years between gestational age 12 to 35 weeks in a primary health clinic in Kuantan, Pahang. Their socio-demographic characteristics were recorded, and barriers for physical activity assessed through a set of pre-tested questionnaire.Descriptive statisticswere used to describe the sociodemographiccharacteristics and the barriers.Results: The mean (SD) age was 28.0 (3.6) and majority of them were of Malay ethnicity from B40 group. Two thirds (74.4%) had tertiary education and 66.7% were working mothers. More than half (53.0%) of the participants wereoverweight and obese.Moreover, 58% of the participants had leg cramp and 63.1% felt fatigue. Almost 80.4% had backache and 46.4% had epigastric discomfort.Conclusion: Barriers such as leg cramp, backache, fatigue and epigastric discomfort could prevent pregnant women from conducting physical activities. Opportunistic recommendation by physician and concerns on the physical activity should be addressed.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2021 Page: S23

Monitoring Physical Activity and Sleep Quality in Children with Blindness and Deafness: A Cross-sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reema M Al Jalal ◽  
Alaa I. Ibrahim ◽  
Turki S. Abualait
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sensorineural Deafness ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sleep Efficiency ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Hearing Children

Abstract Background Child development has critical links to his ability to see and hear. When these senses are impaired, everything is impacted. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of visual and hearing impairments on physical activity and sleep quality in a comparison with the normal sighted-hearing children. Methods This cross-sectional study included 60 Saudi children (20 blind, 20 sensorineural deaf, and 20 sighted-hearing) aged 10 to 15 years old. The physical activity levels and sleep quality were assessed using a waist-mounted ActiGraph accelerometer. Results Children with sensorineural deafness were significantly more active (in step rate and activity rate) than the sighted-hearing group (p = 0.05 and 0.003, respectively). Sighted-hearing children and children with blindness had significantly more sedentary time than children with sensorineural deafness (p = 0.004 and 0.03, respectively). Sleep efficiency was significantly higher in children with sensorineural deafness than sighted-hearing children (p = 0.02). No significant difference was recorded in any of the sleep parameters when children with blindness were compared to the sighted-hearing or children with sensorineural deafness (p > 0.05). Conclusions The ActiGraph results revealed that children with sensorineural deafness were significantly more active and with higher sleep efficiency than sighted-hearing children. Children with blindness spent more time in sedentary activities and less time in moderate activities than children with sensorineural deafness. There was no significant difference in sleep efficiency when comparing sensorineural deaf and blind children.

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