Health‐promoting lifestyle behaviours in pregnant women in Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to describe the health-promoting lifestyle behaviours of pregnant women. The study was carried out with pregnant women who applied to the polyclinics in different maternity and children hospitals located in Adana, Turkey, between 1 March and 30 May 2009. The data collection tools used in the study were (i) a questionnaire that was used to collect sociodemographic data from the participants and (ii) the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II). The results obtained from the study showed that total HPLP II scores were moderate; the highest scores were obtained on the spiritual growth dimension and the lowest scores on the physical activity dimension. Pregnant women with older age, those with a higher educational level, those with a better socioeconomic status and those living in a nuclear family were found to be more likely to have health-promoting lifestyles. Health promotion and healthy lifestyle need to be an integral part of health services provided for pregnant women. Midwives and nurses have prominent roles in encouraging pregnant women to engage in health-promoting behaviours.

The Perspectives of Pregnant Women on Health-Promoting Behaviors: An Integrative Systematic Review

“…Stark and Brinkley did not find any relationship between pregnancy age and behaviors scores (26). In terms of number of pregnancies, some studies found no relationship between the number of pregnancies and the scores of health-promoting behaviors (2,11,24). Gharaibeh et al in Turkey explained that multiparous women earned higher scores in the self-actualization dimension compared to primiparous women (5).…”

“…According to the scores obtained from the questionnaire (HPLP-II), consisting of 52 items and 6 sub-domains including nutrition, physical activity, spiritual growth, stress management, health responsibility, interpersonal relations (1,11,18), regarding the total score of healthpromoting behaviors, pregnant women's status ranked as medium and low (5,9,11,23). Only the studies conducted in Thailand by Thaewpia and colleagues as well as Onat in turkey reported a better total score (24,25).…”

“…The results of the study indicated that the overall scores of behaviors were average; high scores were related to the dimension of spiritual growth (self-actualization) and nutritional status; scores related to social support and accountability were average; and the lowest score was related to stress management and physical activity (9). A review on foreign studies indicated that pregnant women had gained high scores in dimensions of self-actualization, social support, and accountability; average scores in nutrition; and low scores in stress management and physical activity (5,11,16).…”

“…According to most studies, there was a direct relationship between the education level of pregnant women and health-promoting behaviors (16,24). According to a study carried out by Gokyildiz in Turkey, the education level of mothers was one of the predicting factors of healthcare behaviors such as physical activity and diet changes (11). However, in some studies, no significant relationship was found (9,23).…”

“…Cypher's study in the United States indicated a low participation of religious minorities in healthcare behaviors (18). In addition, Onat and Gokyildiz in Turkey implied that living in a nuclear family was linked to high scores of stress management and nutrition (11,24). Examining psychological factors had (28), and stress (26,29) had a negative effect on the total score and different dimensions of health-promoting behaviors, though Campbell could not find any relationship between anxiety levels and the total score of HPLP (6).…”