Relationship Between Physical Activity and Self-perception Levels of Pregnant Women in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Affecting Factors

Authors : Hatice Özkan, Emine Gercek Oter

Pages : 72-88

View : 135 | Download : 128

Publication Date : 2023-11-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the physical activity status and self-perception levels of pregnant women in COVID-19 pandemic and affecting factors. Methods: This analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted between December 8, 2021 and June 27, 2022, with 382 pregnant women who presented to the obstetric outpatient clinic. Data were collected using the Pregnancy Description Form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Self-perception Scale for Pregnant Women (SPSP). Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney-U test (with Bonferroni correction) and Spearman Correlation analysis were used in data analysis. Results: It was concluded that there was no statistically significant difference between the SPSP mean scores of participants who were inactive and active according to IPAQ (p > .05). Variables such as educational level, income and employment status, number of follow-up during pregnancy, and participation in childbirth preparation classes were found to influence the physical activity status of pregnant women (p < .05). It was found that variables such as Body Mass Index (BMI), family type, number of pregnancies, number of follow-up during pregnancy, presence of planned pregnancy, attendance of childbirth preparation classes, the feeling when you first learned about pregnancy, feeling ready to become a mother influenced the self-perception of pregnant women (p < .05). Conclusion: Although no relationship was found between physical activity and self-perception levels of pregnant women in our study, it is important in terms of showing that many sociodemographic and obstetric factors are effective on physical activity and self-perception levels during the pandemic process.
Keywords : Gebelik, fiziksel aktivite, kendini algılama, üreme sağlığı, mental sağlık