Knowledge and practice of physical exercise during pregnancy: protocol for a multicenter cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Physical exercise during pregnancy offers significant maternal and fetal health benefits.
• Despite clinical recommendations, worldwide adherence to exercise during pregnancy is low.
• Pregnancy presents a crucial opportunity for adopting healthy lifestyle habits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess knowledge and practice of physical exercise among pregnant women.
• To compare exercise habits based on gestational risk, with a specific focus on preeclampsia.
• To evaluate the role of prenatal guidance in exercise adherence.

Main Methods:

• Multicenter cross-sectional study involving 1,812 postpartum women across ten Brazilian maternity hospitals.
• Utilized validated questionnaires (e.g., Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire) and medical chart reviews.
• Statistical analyses to determine exercise frequency, adverse outcomes, and factors influencing adherence, comparing low-risk and high-risk pregnancies.

Main Results:

• Data on the prevalence of physical exercise, preeclampsia, and other maternal outcomes will be analyzed.
• Comparison of exercise practices between low-risk and high-risk pregnancies will be conducted.
• Factors associated with exercise adherence, including gestational age at initiation, modality, and professional guidance, will be identified.

Conclusions:

• The study will identify barriers and facilitators to exercise adoption during pregnancy.
• It will evaluate the quality of professional guidance and its impact on women's exercise behaviors.
• Findings will inform the development of tailored strategies to promote safe exercise, improve maternal health, and reduce adverse outcomes like preeclampsia.