Knowledge of Prenatal Exercise among Expectant Women from Selected Health Facilities, Kakamega County, Kenya

The relationship between exercise or physical activity and women reproductive health is a controversial issue especially characterized by lack of understanding on the type of physical activity or exercise and the exact effect on expectant women. This is evidenced by lack of medical guidelines on exercise in pregnancy up to 1985.The traditional medical view ruled out exercise for expectant mothers. The society in general prevented girls from participating in exercise for fear that it might compromise their potential as future mothers. However recent research show that exercise during pregnancy has benefits to the mother and foetus. Modern medicine appreciates that both expectant mothers need exercise for good health. The study assessed the knowledge and attitude of expectant mothers on benefits of exercise during pregnancy. A descriptive survey research design sought information from 306 expectant mothers of 15 -39 years attending antenatal clinics in selected medical facilities of Kakamega County in Kenya. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from the subjects on maternal characteristics and knowledge on benefits of exercise during pregnancy. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the level of knowledge and perceived benefits of exercise during pregnancy. The results showed majority of the subjects were between 20-24 years (33.3%). 17% of the sampled population did not know that exercise was useful in pregnancy despite 71.6% having been active in sports while in school. The subjects showed knowledge of exercise in, preventing incontinence (80.4%), decreased risk of pre-eclampsia (71.6%) and decreasing the risk of gestational diabetes and hypertension at 65.7% and 68.6% respectively. The results indicated that there was strong association between the level of education and, knowledge (X2 (3, N=306) =39.109, p=0.02) in the role of exercise during pregnancy. Therefore it is important to note that the level of education is important for quality pregnancy.