Adherence to physical activity among pregnant women in Southern Italy: results of a cross-sectional survey

Problem

Knowledge about physical activity in pregnancy is limited compared to general population and several approaches have been used to evaluate duration and intensity of physical activity during pregnancy.

Background

Although physical activity can contribute to maternal and fetal well-being, more than half of women stopped their physical activity because of pregnancy.

Aim

To evaluate the adherence to physical activity of low-risk pregnant women by adapting an Italian version of the PPAQ.

Methods

PPAQ was administered to women with singleton uneventful pregnancies between May and December 2022. The intensity of physical activity was calculated using activity's metabolic equivalent (MET).

Findings

Respondents spent 8.5 hours/week during the third trimester in all the types of activities included in the questionnaire, and the majority of METs were spent in household/caregiving activities (91.7 METs-h/week). Only 2,6 % of women reported they spent at least 150 minutes per week in moderate-intensity sport/exercise activity. One-hundred-forty-one women (37.2 %) reported they have been counselled by a midwife or an obstetrician regarding the importance of physical activity in pregnancy and 164 participants (43.3 %) declared that have been advised in favour of bed rest at least once in the current pregnancy.

Discussion

Our results showed that a very small percentage was regularly involved in sport/exercise activities.

Conclusion

The engagement in physical activity of pregnant women during the third trimester is still very low and specific policies to improve exercise in pregnancy should be warrantied.