Evaluation of Adherence and Effect of Designed Exercise Training on Physical and Mental Health of Pregnant Mothers

Given the key role of activity in the development of physical and mental health during pregnancy, this study aimed to evaluate the adherence and effect of the designed exercise training program on the physical and mental health of pregnant women.

The present quasi-experimental study was performed with pre-test and post-test without the control group, in which the separation of adherent and non-adherent groups was performed in an Ex post facto design. The study was carried out on 150 pregnant mothers in Tabriz city using convenience sampling in 2018-2019. Initially, data on the level of physical activity and physical-mental health were collected from all subjects. The designed exercises were given to the subjects to perform at home after one-session training. After eight weeks, the adherence to the exercises was evaluated, and the physical-mental effects of exercise were compared in two groups. The total number of samples in the secondary assessments was 114.  ANCOVA and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare variables between the two groups.

Adherence to the training program was 3.15 sessions per week. Thirty-four pregnant mothers (30%) adhered to exercise, showing a significant decrease in activity heart rate (p=0/044) and significant increases in low body strength (p=0/042) and SPo2 (p= 0/005) compared to non-exercising women. There was no significant difference in mental health between the two groups (p>0/05).

Although the designed exercise training program had beneficial effects on some physical functions of pregnant mothers, it did not affect their mental health.