Relationship Between Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Pregnant Women



Bahadoran P¹ ; Mohamadirizi S²
Source: Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research Published:2015

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is one of the important factors in predicting the quality of life, which varies between different cultures and countries. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity and the quality of life in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried on 380 pregnant women who were admitted to Isfahan healthcare centers and Shahid Beheshti Hospital, by using the two-stage sampling method (cluster convenience) in 2013. Demographic/pregnancy characteristics, physical activity (36Q) and prenatal quality of life questionnaires (26Q) were completed by the participants. The statistical analyses were performed with various statistical tests such as Studentas t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation coeffi cient, linear regression, and SPSS statistical software version 16. Results: The fi ndings showed that 91.6% of the subjects were 20a-35 years old, 69% had a gestational age of 29a-37 weeks, 60% had their fi rst pregnancy, 98% had poor physical activities, and 43% had a good quality of life. There was also a negative correlation between physical activity and social support (P = 0.04, r = a'0.11). Conclusions: As the results show high percentage of poor physical activity and quality of life, and also the relationship between these variables, more attention should be dedicated to this problem. Furthermore, structured programs and educational approaches are also needed for pregnant women. © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.