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Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal

Keywords

birth weight, exercise, gestational weight gain, pregnancy, sports

First Page

166

Last Page

173

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the exercise habits of pregnant women in the third trimester (N = 303). We assessed participation in physical activities, including exercise or sports, using the Japanese version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. A total of 183 (60.4%) pregnant Japanese women participated in some form of exercise and 87 (28.7%) exercised for 2 hours or more, per week, in the third trimester. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that women who set themselves a gestational weight gain target (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 8.10, 95% CI [2.82, 23.4], p< .001), were more likely to participate in exercise or sports. In contrast, multiparous women (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI [0.26, 0.72], p = .001), and those whose pre-pregnancy body weights suggested obesity (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.30 0.87], p = .013) were less likely to participate in such activities. We found a relationship between non-participation for 2 hours or more, per week, to being multiparous (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI [0.18, 0.94], p< .001) and the presence of anemia in the second trimester (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.28, 0.94], p = .031). Working status, seasonal differences, concerns about being overweight, and individual dietary nutritional guidance were not related to participation in exercise or sports. While setting a target for gestational weight gain may motivate participation in exercise or sports, women who were multiparous and those who perceived themselves as obese before pregnancy, showed a negative association with participation.

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