Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude towards Physical Activity during Pregnancy and its Associated Factor among Women Attending Antenatal Care at Public Health institution of Akaki Kality Sub City, Ethiopia

Background: Physical activity, defined as any bodily movement produced by the contraction of skeletal muscles in all stages of life maintains and improves cardio respiratory fitness, reduces the risk of obesity and associated comorbidities, and results in greater longevity. Exercise, defined as activity consisting of planned, structured, and repetitive bodily movement. Physical inactivity is the fourth-leading risk factor for early mortality worldwide. Physical inactivity during pregnancy is associated with serious short-term and long-term risks for mothers and babies. Objective: The study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude towards antenatal physical activity and its associated factor among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health institutions in Akaki-Kality sub city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2019. Methods and materials: An institutional-based crosssectional study design was employed and 404 participants were invited to this study. The participants were selected through systematic random sampling technique. This study was conducted from February 15 to March 15. The data was collected through a structured questionnaire and face to face interview and the analysis was performed through SSPS 21 computer programs. Results: 43.9% and 47.3% of pregnant women had poor knowledge and had unfavorable attitude about antenatal physical activity respectively. The finding of this study ever done and heard about physical activity and their attitude of physical activity were statically significant associated to their knowledge with AOR=(4.020, 95%CI (1.686,9.587)) AOR=(2.828, 95% CI (1.268,6.308)) and AOR=(5.297, 95% CI (2.380, 11.788)) respectively. And also ever done physical activity before pregnancy and heard about physical activity, gravidity, and their knowledge of physical activity had significant association to their attitude with AOR= (0.206, 95% CI (0.112,0.376)), AOR=(2.943, 95% CI (1.618, 5.351)), AOR=(0.544, 95% CI (0.319,0.928)) and AOR=(6.264, 95% CI (3.489,11.245)) respectively. Conclusion and recommendation: This study told that less than half of the respondents had poor knowledge and near to half of the respondents had unfavorable attitude about antenatal physical activity. We recommend for the FMOH should design policies, programs and guidelines and give for all health institutions to teach about the benefit and the contraindication of physical activity during pregnancy.

Author(s): Solomon Adanew Worku, Yohannes Moges Mittiku, Getu Engida Wake, Israel Diress and Amanuel Gashaw

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