Assessing of physical activity self-efficacy and knowledge about benefits and safety during pregnancy among women

Though, positive correlation and relationship between physical activity and maternal health, is proved, but, for a few reasons, physical activity declines during pregnancy. Some study suggests that self-efficacy is correlated with sustaining engagement in physical activity. The purpose of this study was to obtain physical activity level; self-efficacy and knowledge about benefits and safety during pregnancy among 205 pregnant women refer to health center of 22- region in capital Tehran. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 205 pregnant women refer to health center.Tools of current study were self-reported questionnaire for assessing self-efficacy and knowledge about benefits and safety during pregnancy, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and demographics questionnaire. To assess statistical differences between groups, one-way analysis of variance & Chi-Square was conducted. Alpha level for statistical significance was set at 0.05 and data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software Version 16.0 (SPSS). physical activity self-efficacy was significantly related to maternal education (p=0.047) and physical activity level (p=0.008). There is significant relationship between maternal physical activity level and their education (p=0.011) and job (p=0.015). There is not significant relationship between self-efficacy and age (p=0.363) and gestational status (p=0.954). Only 33.1% (n=68) of participants knew that activity would increase maternal energy level, 52.2% (n=107) perceived that exercise can prevent the risk of gestational diabetes, and just 25.9% (n=53) reported that a mother who is overweight is more likely to have an overweight child. Results verified that education was important role in women’s information about health benefits and safety knowledge related to physical activity during pregnancy.