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Published on: March 7, 2019
Objectively recorded physical activity in early pregnancy: a multiethnic population-based study.
S Berntsen1, K R Richardsen, K Mørkrid
1Department of Public Health, Sport and Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|January 3, 2013
Summary
Western pregnant women engage in more physical activity (PA) and walking than South Asian women. Parity and education influence PA levels differently across ethnic groups, highlighting risks for inactive lifestyles in some South Asian women.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Public Health
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy is crucial for maternal and fetal health.
- Objective measurement of PA and walking steps provides accurate insights into activity patterns.
- Ethnic variations in PA levels during pregnancy are not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare objectively recorded physical activity (PA) levels and walking steps between pregnant women of different ethnicities.
- To investigate the influence of parity and education on PA and walking patterns across ethnic groups.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 678 pregnant women from a multiethnic cohort.
- Objective measurement of PA and steps using the SenseWear™ Pro3 Armband activity monitor.
- Statistical analysis to compare PA and steps, and to identify interaction effects of ethnicity, parity, and education.
Main Results:
- Western women exhibited significantly higher walking steps and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) levels compared to South Asian women on weekdays and weekend days.
- Significant interactions were found between ethnicity and parity/education.
- South Asian women with no children and higher education showed a higher risk of inactivity during pregnancy.
Conclusions:
- South Asian pregnant women generally have lower PA levels and walking steps compared to Western women.
- Parity and education modify PA levels differently based on ethnicity, suggesting targeted interventions may be needed.
- Specific subgroups of South Asian women, particularly those without children and with higher education, are at elevated risk for sedentary behavior during pregnancy.
