Physical Activity in Pregnancy: Beliefs, Benefits, and Information-Seeking Practices of Pregnant Women in South Africa

Abstract

Background Notwithstanding the benefits of physical activity (PA) during pregnancy, anecdotal evidence suggests ignorance, unscientific beliefs, and lack of awareness about PA among pregnant South African women. Aim This study examined the beliefs, perceived benefits, and sources of information on PA during pregnancy. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was employed between June and September 2019 using an interviewer-administered questionnaire with 1,082 pregnant women. These women were attending antenatal primary health–care clinics in Buffalo City, Eastern Cape, South Africa. A self-designed questionnaire solicited information on beliefs, benefits, and sources of information regarding PA during pregnancy. Results A majority of the participants held positive beliefs concerning PA during pregnancy. They maintained that PA was safe for mother and fetus, improved labor and delivery (93.1%), promoted energy (89.0%), and should be discontinued when tired (76.6%). Most held negative convictions that PA during pregnancy increased body temperature (64.5%) and that pregnancy was a time to rest and refrain from PA (56.5%). Predominantl sources of information received about PA during pregnancy were television, the radio, and other media (70.2%). Most participants were aware of the benefits of PA during pregnancy —— reduction in infant weight (61.4%), lessening of moodiness (90.4), and decreased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (92.9%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (92.5%), and complications at birth (97.8%), while common negative perceptions included musculoskeletal discomfort (82.7%), and back pain (85.7%). An overwhelming majority affirmed that PA improved self-image (95.7%), sleep patterns (94.2%), and respiratory function (95.8%). Conclusion Our findings suggested that women hold positive beliefs and perceive PA as beneficial to their health and the baby; however, they received most of their information from the Internet. Most women regarded pregnancy as a period to relax and rest. Interventions to promote PA during pregnancy are needed.

Development and Validation of Prenatal Physical Activity Intervention Strategy for Women in Buffalo City Municipality, South Africa

“…However, prenatal physical activity and exercise have not been widely studied within the context of South Africa. To address this lack, a prenatal physical activity intervention strategy has been developed specifically for South Africa and is on the first empirical findings [24][25][26][27]. This timely move provides a unique contribution to, and lays the groundwork for, future prenatal physical activity intervention strategies, not only in the Eastern Cape Province but throughout South Africa as a whole.…”

“…A multi-stage approach was utilized, with Phase I focussing on the empirical findings on facilitators of or barriers to prenatal physical participation in Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, which then lays the groundwork for the development of a prenatal physical activity strategy [24][25][26][27]. Therefore, the results of the studies above have provided us with guidance into developing an effective prenatal physical activity strategy that promotes the practice of prenatal physical activity.…”

“…Moreover, within the specific context of South Africa, the literature does not contain any research into the development of prenatal strategies that promote physical activity practices in pregnant women. In order to address this lack, our empirical findings on different aspects of prenatal physical activity in pregnant women, and midwives' views of related counselling [24][25][26][27] informed and supported the need to develop and validate intervention strategies to promote physical activity and exercise during pregnancy in Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.…”

Maternal knowledge-seeking behavior among pregnant women in Tanzania

“…They found that despite the rise of social media and Internet usage, mass media was declining as a primary source of health information which could have been influenced by low literacy and income among the women. Okafor and Goon 16 found that a majority of women in South Africa (70.2%) got information about physical exercise during pregnancy through social media, television, and radio, while 49.1% used books, newspapers, and magazines as a source of information. The study showed that lack of physical activity information from midwives in charge of their antenatal care clinic influenced high reliance on friends, family, magazines, and most importantly the Internet as a source of information.…”

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

“…It is well known that exercise during pregnancy has a positive effect on the health of both the pregnant woman and the fetus [ 1 , 2 ]. Maternal benefits include reduced risk of excessive gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia and hypertension, operative deliveries, postpartum and perinatal depression, and anxiety [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Additionally, PA improves maternal cardiorespiratory capacity and fitness level [ 9 ].…”