Effects of Evidence-Based Materials and Access to Local Resources on Physical Activity during Pregnancy

Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy has been shown to be safe and effective for improving maternal and infant health; however, only 23% of pregnant women exercise in accordance with guidelines. PURPOSE: To determine if the distribution of evidence-based educational resources as well as access to community resources will increase PA levels as well as knowledge/beliefs about PA during pregnancy. METHODS: Participants (8-12 weeks) completed assessments concerning their activity levels, as well as knowledge/beliefs regarding PA, during pregnancy. Next, participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention (IG) or control group (CG). The IG received educational information regarding PA during pregnancy, as well as access to local fitness facilities. At the end of pregnancy (32-39 weeks), all baseline assessments were repeated. RESULTS: Seventy-one women participated in the study (IG: 40, CG: 31). Fourteen women in the IG utilized PA services (prenatal yoga: 11, gym setting: 6, both: 3). There were no differences in step counts or knowledge/beliefs regarding PA between groups. The IG spent less time pushing during labor compared to the CG (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: The intervention was unsuccessful at increasing PA levels to a significant degree. Future interventions should be more involved in order to have a substantial impact on PA-related outcomes; thus, educational materials and community resources are not enough to increase PA levels during pregnancy