Educational value of YouTube videos on exercise during pregnancy: A cross-sectional analysis

Exercise during pregnancy provides significant physical and psychological benefits for both the mother and fetus. However, many women rely on online platforms such as YouTube for guidance, where the accuracy and quality of information can vary widely.

This study aimed to evaluate the educational value of YouTube videos related to exercise during pregnancy.

A systematic search was conducted on YouTube using the keywords "exercise in pregnancy" and "exercise during pregnancy." A total of 97 videos were analyzed in terms of quality, reliability, and comprehensiveness. The Global Quality Scale (GQS) was used to assess video quality, while reliability was evaluated using the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) scale. The Exercise Specific Score in Pregnancy (EPSS) was employed to assess the educational content of the videos, and viewer engagement was measured using an interaction index based on likes, comments, and views.

Most content was produced by certified pre and postnatal birth coaches (n = 55, 56.7%). Nearly half of the videos were high quality (n = 46, 47.4%), and the majority were reliable (n = 81, 83.5%). Professional organizations mainly produced moderate quality content, whereas health professionals and certified birth coaches generated higher quality videos; in contrast, fitness trainers tended to produce lower quality content. No significant correlations were found between GQS, mDISCERN, EPSS scores, and the interaction index (p > 0.05).

The findings suggest that YouTube videos on exercise during pregnancy are generally high-quality and reliable. However, viewer engagement does not align with quality and reliability, indicating a potential risk of pregnant women accessing misleading or inaccurate information.