Factors associated with antenatal exercise in Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Many health risks in pregnant women and their foetuses can be reduced by practicing antenatal exercise. However, the adequate practice of antenatal exercise among pregnant women is low in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the practice of antenatal exercise and its associated factors among pregnant women in Arba Minch town. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted. Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire from 422 pregnant women selected by a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were computed and a binary logistic regression model was fitted. In multivariable logistic-regression adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the strength of associations. The significance level was declared at a p-value < 0.05. Results Among 410 participants, 32.9% (95% CI 28%-37%) adequately practiced antenatal exercise. Factors negatively associated with an adequate antenatal exercise were husband’s primary school level [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.3, (95% CI: 0.1, 0.7)], history of miscarriage [AOR = 0.3, (95% CI: 0.1, 0.7)], inadequate knowledge [AOR = 0.2, (95% CI: 0.1, 0.3)], and unfavorable attitude [AOR = 0.3, (95% CI 0.2, 0.5)]. Whereas, factors positively associated with an adequate antenatal exercise were employment status of women [AOR = 4.8, (95% CI: 1.8, 13.1)], and a practice of regular exercise before current pregnancy [AOR = 1.9, (95% CI: 1.1, 3.2)]. Conclusions The findings of this study indicated that adequate practice of antenatal exercise was found to be low. Appropriate measures should be taken to improve the husband’s educational level, mother’s occupation, knowledge, and attitudes towards antenatal exercise. Special consideration should be given to those with a history of miscarriage and women should be encouraged to practice regular exercise before pregnancy.

Factors influencing physical inactivity status among Chinese pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

“…We used a multivariable logistic regression model to identify factors associated with physical inactivity during pregnancy in Shanghai and found that women who had engaged in regular exercise before pregnancy were more likely to have a higher PA level during pregnancy than women who had not, which is consistent with studies from Arba Minch Town in Ethiopia [19], Campinas in Brazil [18], data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [14] and a study performed in Chengdu in China [15]. This nding indicates that starting exercise before conception may help women to achieve adequate PA during pregnancy and underscores the importance of lifestyle changes before pregnancy.…”

“…First, we used backward elimination to remove variables with a p-value >0.2. Second, considering maternal age, level of education, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, and history of spontaneous abortions to be clinically relevant or related to the level of PA in previous studies [19,20,23], we also added these ve variables into the model. Finally, maternal age, level of education, current employment status, personal monthly income, pre-pregnancy BMI, regular exercise before pregnancy, alcohol consumption before pregnancy, history of spontaneous abortions, parity, stage of pregnancy, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, and prenatal sleep quality were entered as independent variables into the logistic regression model.…”

“…Researchers have showed that pregnant women who are younger, less well educated, and unemployed and those with multiple children and a lower income are less likely to engage in an adequate amount of PA [11,12,17,18]. Obstetric variables associated with PA in pregnancy include history of miscarriage, parity, and exercise and smoking status before pregnancy [19][20][21]. Even though there is no scienti c evidence linking prenatal exercise with adverse outcomes, some obstetric caregivers and pregnant women continue to be skeptical about the safety of prenatal exercise.…”

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards antenatal physical exercise among pregnant women in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The included studies are three in Tigray region [ 21 , 25 , 34 ], while Amhara region [ 18 , 23 ], SNNPR (Southern Nations Nationalities and People’s Region) region [ 20 , 24 ] and Addis Ababa city contributed two studies each [ 35 , 36 ], and Harar [ 37 ] and Sidama regions represented by one study each [ 19 ]. All of the included articles were cross-sectional studies [ 18 – 21 , 23 – 25 , 34 – 37 ], and the included sample ranges from 240 to 806 pregnant women.…”

A socio-ecological model of factors influencing physical activity in pregnant women: a systematic review

“…In one paper, there was a suggestion that PA intensity could be increased by encouraging more PA before pregnancy ( 40 ). Low education ( 32 , 35 , 36 , 43 , 46 , 54 ), first parity ( 29 , 36 , 43 ), lack of knowledge and skills ( 27 , 33 , 44–46 , 53 , 55 ), pregnancy symptoms ( 25 , 27 , 28 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 43 , 44 , 51–53 , 55 ), lack of time ( 25 , 27 , 33 , 39 , 44 , 53 ), low income ( 27 , 33 , 39 , 45 , 51 , 53 ), lack of motivation/goal ( 25 , 51 , 53 , 55 ), and safety concerns ( 25 , 27 , 29 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 44–46 , 49 , 51 , 53 , 55 ) were all identified by the researchers as barriers. The lack of time mainly came from family commitments ( 44 ), while low education, first parity, and lack of knowledge and skills were all related to safety concerns.…”