Factors influencing health behaviour change during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-synthesis

Abstract

Pregnancy is an opportune time for women to make healthy changes to their lifestyle, however, many women struggle to do so. Multiple reasons have been posited as to why this may be. This review aimed to synthesise this literature by identifying factors that influence women's health behaviour during pregnancy, specifically in relation to dietary behaviour, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use. Bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL-P, MIDIRS) were systematically searched to retrieve studies reporting qualitative data regarding women's experiences or perceptions of pregnancy-related behaviour change relating to the four key behaviours. Based on the eligibility criteria, 30,852 records were identified and 92 studies were included. Study quality was assessed using the CASP tool and data were thematically synthesised. Three overarching themes were generated from the data. These were (1) A time to think about 'me', (2) Adopting the 'good mother' role, and (3) Beyond mother and baby. These findings provide an improved understanding of the various internal and external factors influencing women's health behaviour during the antenatal period. This knowledge provides the foundations from which future pregnancy-specific theories of behaviour change can be developed and highlights the importance of taking a holistic approach to maternal behaviour change in clinical practice.

Planning is not equivalent to preparing, how Dutch women perceive their pregnancy planning in relation to preconceptional lifestyle behaviour change - a cross-sectional study

“…Hence, this emphasizes critical individual differences in human behaviour and decision-making. Therefore, the delivery of health promotion advices as PCC-messages should be tailored to the individual level and match personal health beliefs while simultaneously acknowledging the barriers women face to act upon health-promoting behaviours [ 54 , 55 ].…”

Understanding pregnancy as a teachable moment for behaviour change: a comparison of the COM-B and teachable moments models

“…Details of the systematic review and meta-synthesis have been reported in full elsewhere (Rockliffe et al, 2021 ). In brief, four bibliographic databases were searched (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL-P, and MIDIRS) on 11/12/18 (and updated on 02/09/20) for studies providing qualitative data about women's experiences or perceptions of behaviour change specific to dietary behaviour, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use, during an uncomplicated pregnancy.…”

“…Additional records were identified using alternative search methods ( n = 36). Ninety-two studies were included in the review (see Rockliffe et al, 2021 for list of included studies). Study data were extracted using a data extraction tool, and study quality was assessed using a modified version of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative appraisal checklist (CASP; Critical Appraisal Skills Programme, 2018 ).…”

“…A previous systematic review and meta-synthesis identified factors influencing health behaviour change during pregnancy, specific to dietary behaviour, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use (Rockliffe et al, 2021 ). This was an important first step in understanding pregnancy as a teachable moment.…”

The Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire: Validity and Reliability of a Serbian Version (PPAQ-SRB)

“…In this regard, PA is a particularly important prerequisite for the majority of the aspects of human health, especially the population in the reproductive period, and more specifically, pregnant women [ 4 ]. Pregnant women are particularly fragile and sensitive to external and internal influences, with a special focus on fetal health [ 5 , 6 ].…”