Objective: To determine the levels of physical activity in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and to study pregnancy related activity phobia and the association between these two variables.
Methodology: This cross-sectional survey included 164 pregnant females from Federal Government, Poly Clinic Hospital and Shifa Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan from December 2018 to June 2019. Third trimester pregnant females in the age range 19 to 45 years were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and physical disability like polio, amputations, muscular weakness, dystrophies and arthritis. Pregnancy physical activity questionnaire was used to determine the levels of physical activity and Self-structured Questionnaire to determine activity phobia during pregnancy. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.
Results: Out of 164 participants, majority had mild levels of physical activity in all domains of pregnancy physical activity questionnaire including physical activity intensity. Activities were household 96 (58%), sports and exercise 164 (100%) and fun and travelling 119 (72%). 113 (69%) females had fear of physical activity during pregnancy while 51(31%) rejected its presence. Statistical analysis showed no association between levels of physical activity with phobia (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Physical activity declines in the third trimester of pregnancy. Although activity phobia and the decrease in activity level had no association, yet activity phobia was found to be in majority of sample population.
Key words: Physical activity, phobia, pregnancy, third trimester.
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