الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Antenatal services are amongst the major interventions aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths worldwide. Quality antenatal interventions should address common pregnancy related complains and also the importance of guided antenatal exercises during pregnancy should be stressed as these provide safe motherhood and improve neonatal outcomes. WHO, (2003) Studies have recommended that women should initiate or continue exercise in most pregnancies as it is safe for mother and not harmful to the fetus. The health benefits of regular exercise in pregnancy include maintenance and improvement of physical fitness, help in controlling weight, maintaining blood glucose, cope with various psychological and physical stresses during pregnancy and labor and improve blood circulation. This study was conducted in Menoufia Governorate at maternal and child health centers in Shebin El Kom city (Qebly and Bahary MCH centers) to assess perception of pregnant women toward practice of antenatal exercises using descriptive correlational cross -sectional design. The estimated sample size was one hundred and eighty-five (185) pregnant women. The sample fulfilling inclusion criteria: a) pregnant woman, b) at any trimester c) without having any contraindications on practice antenatal exercise and d) pregnant women who are willing to participate in the study. A piloting study has been conducting on 10% of the total sample to test the clarity, applicability and understandability of the tool. The data collection instruments were included: Interviewing questionnaire which contained socio-demographic data, medical and surgical history, menstrual history, past obstetric history, present obstetric history and current physical activity history. Interviewing questionnaire about perception of pregnant women toward antenatal exercises. Interviewing questionnaire about attitude of pregnant women toward antenatal exercises. The pregnant women have given an oral consent prior to enrollment. Anonymity and confidentiality were assured and pregnant women were told that they could withdraw from the study at any point without prejudice. The main findings of the present study were: The majority of the studied pregnant women had high level of perception about antenatal exercise. The study revealed that about three quarters of the studied pregnant women had high level of perception about benefits of antenatal exercise, more than three quarters of the studied pregnant women had high level of perception about contraindications of antenatal exercise and more than third of the of the studied pregnant women had high level of perception about guidelines of antenatal exercise. There is statistical significant association between perception of pregnant women toward practice antenatal exercises and their educational level and their occupation. More than half of the studied pregnant women had positive attitude toward practice antenatal exercises.Based on the findings of the present study, the following recommendations are suggested: 1. Incorporate physical activity, antenatal exercise benefits, guidelines and contraindications into antenatal counseling 2. Encourage pregnant women to early booking for antenatal care 3. Initiating antenatal education sessions about exercise during pregnancy in the antenatal visits for explaining importance of antenatal exercises. Recommendation for future research 1. Replication of the research study to further setting using a large sample. 2. Other studies can be done to evaluate the positive impact of exercise on pregnancy and perinatal outcome. |