Leisure time physical activity among pregnant women and its associations with maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes

Background Physical activity during pregnancy is generally considered safe and beneficial for both the pregnant woman and her fetus. The overall aim was to investigate pregnant women's pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy physical activity and its associations with maternal characteristics and pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
Main Authors: Lindqvist, Maria, Lindkvist, Marie, Eurenius, Eva, Persson, Margareta, Ivarsson, Anneli, Mogren, Ingrid
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Umeå universitet, Obstetrik och gynekologi 2016
Subjects:
Cross-sectional study
physical activity
pregnancy outcomes
body mass index
education
health promotion
Obstetrics
Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi
Nursing
Omvårdnad
Northern Sweden
Online Access:http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-119563
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2016.03.006
Description
Summary:Background Physical activity during pregnancy is generally considered safe and beneficial for both the pregnant woman and her fetus. The overall aim was to investigate pregnant women's pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy physical activity and its associations with maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes. Methods This cross-sectional study combined data from the Maternal Health Care Register in Västerbotten (MHCR-VB) and the Salut Programme Register (Salut-R). Data were collected from 3,868 pregnant women living in northern Sweden between 2011 and 2012. Results Almost half of the participants (47.1%) achieved the recommended level of physical activity. Compared to the women who did not achieve the recommended level of exercise, these women had lower BMI, very good or good self-rated health, and a higher educational level. No significant associations could be established between physical activity levels and GDM, birth weight, or mode of delivery. Conclusions Positively, a considerably high proportion of Swedish pregnant women achieved the recommended level of physical activity. Factors associated with recommended physical activity level were BMI ≤30 kg/m2, very good or good self-rated health, and higher educational level. Our findings emphasize the need for health care professionals to early detect and promote fertile and pregnant women towards health-enhancing physical activity, especially those with low levels of physical activity and overweight/obesity, to improve overall health in this population.

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