RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SELECTED VARIABLES AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AMONG LOW-RISK PREGNANT WOMEN IN WENZHOU, CHINA

Abstract

Understanding factors related to physical activity during pregnancy (PAP) among low-risk pregnant women is crucial for staffs and those who care for them. The purpose of this study was to describe maternal physical activity during pregnancy and to determine its related factors among low-risk pregnant women. Simple random sampling was used to recruit the sample of 170 participants who visited the general obstetric clinic of the second affiliated hospital of Wenzhou Medical University during the months of April to May 2022. Instruments used for data collection included Chinese version of Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale, Physical Activity Health Belief Scale during Pregnancy, Chinese version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form. These yielded reliabilities of .83 and .97, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and point biserial correlation.

Result revealed that less than half achieved adequate levels of physical activity during pregnancy (45.9%). There were positive correlations between perceived susceptibility and perceived benefit (r =.166, p < .05 and r =.210, p < .01, respectively). Therefore, nursing staff should improve pregnant women's perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits of PAP and guide pregnant women to actively participate in PAP.

-