Exploring the intensity, barriers and correlates of physical activity In Iranian pregnant women:  a cross-sectional study

Katayon  Ahmadi; Leila Amiri-Farahani; Shima  Haghani; Seyedeh Batool  Hasanpoor‑Azghady; Sally Pezaro

doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001020

Exploring the intensity, barriers and correlates of physical activity In Iranian pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

Katayon Ahmadi
, Leila Amiri-Farahani
, Shima Haghani
, Seyedeh Batool Hasanpoor‑Azghady
, Sally Pezaro

Iran University of Medical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

63 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objectives To determine the intensity, barriers and correlates of physical activity (PA) in Iranian pregnant women.

Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out with 300 eligible pregnant women referred to the Ilam health centres and bases using stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. Data collection tools included a demographic and obstetrical history questionnaire, the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale. The association between demographic and obstetrical characteristics and PA intensity and barriers were studied using multiple linear regression models.

Results The mean and SD of the total score of PA intensity were 47.15 and 26.25 metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-hour/week, respectively. The highest and the lowest barriers were related to the time expenditure (42.77±18.04) and family discouragement (50.72±24.99) constructs, respectively. The PA intensity was significantly associated with prepregnancy or early pregnancy body mass index (B=25.6), ethnicity (B=16.94), level of education (B=−8.77), number of children (B=5.95), gestational age (B=0.81), participation in childbirth preparation classes (B=−11.27), habitual exercise before pregnancy (B=6.09), income (B=−9.22). The PA barriers were significantly associated with ethnicity (B=−4.96), income (B=2.23) and habitual exercise before pregnancy (B =−1.35).

Conclusion PA intensity may be enhanced by encouraging individuals to be more physically active before pregnancy. Additionally, strategies to enhance support from friends and family to engage in PA throughout pregnancy and PA interventions focused on women with lower levels of income and education are required.

Original language	English
Article number	e001020
Number of pages	12
Journal	BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine
Volume	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001020
Publication status	Published - 6 Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon this work for any purpose, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the licence is given, and indication of whether changes were made.
See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Funder

Funding The present article is extracted from a master thesis funded by the Research Deputy of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Access to Document

10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001020Licence: CC BY

PublishedFinal published version, 914 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{06a368cc1ef14cbd933b78d0e38f9432,

title = "Exploring the intensity, barriers and correlates of physical activity In Iranian pregnant women: a cross-sectional study",

abstract = "Objectives To determine the intensity, barriers and correlates of physical activity (PA) in Iranian pregnant women. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out with 300 eligible pregnant women referred to the Ilam health centres and bases using stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. Data collection tools included a demographic and obstetrical history questionnaire, the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale. The association between demographic and obstetrical characteristics and PA intensity and barriers were studied using multiple linear regression models. Results The mean and SD of the total score of PA intensity were 47.15 and 26.25 metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-hour/week, respectively. The highest and the lowest barriers were related to the time expenditure (42.77±18.04) and family discouragement (50.72±24.99) constructs, respectively. The PA intensity was significantly associated with prepregnancy or early pregnancy body mass index (B=25.6), ethnicity (B=16.94), level of education (B=−8.77), number of children (B=5.95), gestational age (B=0.81), participation in childbirth preparation classes (B=−11.27), habitual exercise before pregnancy (B=6.09), income (B=−9.22). The PA barriers were significantly associated with ethnicity (B=−4.96), income (B=2.23) and habitual exercise before pregnancy (B =−1.35). Conclusion PA intensity may be enhanced by encouraging individuals to be more physically active before pregnancy. Additionally, strategies to enhance support from friends and family to engage in PA throughout pregnancy and PA interventions focused on women with lower levels of income and education are required.",

author = "Katayon Ahmadi and Leila Amiri-Farahani and Shima Haghani and Hasanpoor‑Azghady, \{Seyedeh Batool\} and Sally Pezaro",

note = "This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon this work for any purpose, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the licence is given, and indication of whether changes were made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.",

year = "2021",

month = oct,

day = "6",

doi = "10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001020",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

journal = "BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine",

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T1 - Exploring the intensity, barriers and correlates of physical activity In Iranian pregnant women

T2 - a cross-sectional study

AU - Ahmadi, Katayon

AU - Amiri-Farahani, Leila

AU - Haghani, Shima

AU - Hasanpoor‑Azghady, Seyedeh Batool

AU - Pezaro, Sally

N1 - This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon this work for any purpose, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the licence is given, and indication of whether changes were made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

PY - 2021/10/6

Y1 - 2021/10/6

N2 - Objectives To determine the intensity, barriers and correlates of physical activity (PA) in Iranian pregnant women. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out with 300 eligible pregnant women referred to the Ilam health centres and bases using stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. Data collection tools included a demographic and obstetrical history questionnaire, the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale. The association between demographic and obstetrical characteristics and PA intensity and barriers were studied using multiple linear regression models. Results The mean and SD of the total score of PA intensity were 47.15 and 26.25 metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-hour/week, respectively. The highest and the lowest barriers were related to the time expenditure (42.77±18.04) and family discouragement (50.72±24.99) constructs, respectively. The PA intensity was significantly associated with prepregnancy or early pregnancy body mass index (B=25.6), ethnicity (B=16.94), level of education (B=−8.77), number of children (B=5.95), gestational age (B=0.81), participation in childbirth preparation classes (B=−11.27), habitual exercise before pregnancy (B=6.09), income (B=−9.22). The PA barriers were significantly associated with ethnicity (B=−4.96), income (B=2.23) and habitual exercise before pregnancy (B =−1.35). Conclusion PA intensity may be enhanced by encouraging individuals to be more physically active before pregnancy. Additionally, strategies to enhance support from friends and family to engage in PA throughout pregnancy and PA interventions focused on women with lower levels of income and education are required.

AB - Objectives To determine the intensity, barriers and correlates of physical activity (PA) in Iranian pregnant women. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out with 300 eligible pregnant women referred to the Ilam health centres and bases using stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. Data collection tools included a demographic and obstetrical history questionnaire, the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale. The association between demographic and obstetrical characteristics and PA intensity and barriers were studied using multiple linear regression models. Results The mean and SD of the total score of PA intensity were 47.15 and 26.25 metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-hour/week, respectively. The highest and the lowest barriers were related to the time expenditure (42.77±18.04) and family discouragement (50.72±24.99) constructs, respectively. The PA intensity was significantly associated with prepregnancy or early pregnancy body mass index (B=25.6), ethnicity (B=16.94), level of education (B=−8.77), number of children (B=5.95), gestational age (B=0.81), participation in childbirth preparation classes (B=−11.27), habitual exercise before pregnancy (B=6.09), income (B=−9.22). The PA barriers were significantly associated with ethnicity (B=−4.96), income (B=2.23) and habitual exercise before pregnancy (B =−1.35). Conclusion PA intensity may be enhanced by encouraging individuals to be more physically active before pregnancy. Additionally, strategies to enhance support from friends and family to engage in PA throughout pregnancy and PA interventions focused on women with lower levels of income and education are required.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85119490400

U2 - 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001020

DO - 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001020

M3 - Article

SN - 2055-7647

VL - 7

JO - BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine

JF - BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine

M1 - e001020

ER -