AUTHOR=Altaş Zeynep Meva , Lüleci Nimet Emel , Hıdıroğlu Seyhan 

TITLE=Evaluation of Physical Activity Level and Related Factors in Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Period

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605800

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1605800

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> It was aimed to determine the level of physical activity and related factors in pregnant women.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> The study is a mixed methods study. The participants are women applied to the pregnancy outpatient clinic of a hospital. The level of physical activity was assessed with the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Sociodemographic questions and seven questions of the International Physical Activity Environment Module were asked. Besides, in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 women.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The study was conducted with 304 women. The median age was 29.0 (18.0–40.0) years. The mean total activity and sedentary activity scores were 195.8 ± 107.9 and 37.22 ± 31.08 MET-hours/week, respectively. Pregnant women were mostly involved in light-intensity and housework/caregiving activities. Most of the participants mentioned that they were less active than pre-pregnancy period. The most common reasons for being less active were weakness, fatigue, lack of time and complaints such as low back pain and nausea.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> More than half of the pregnant women mentioned that they were less active during pregnancy. Thus, interventions should be planned to increase physical activity level of pregnant women.</p>