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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Cathleen Fracasse, School of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 187 Hillsdale Rd., P.O. Box 645, South Egremont, MA 01258, (413) 545-1303, jrinsky@asph.org

Participation in physical activity during pregnancy has been associated with reduced risks of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Although the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Guidelines recommend that pregnant women accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity activity a day on most days, the majority of pregnant women are inactive. To date, interventions have not been conducted to increase physical activity in pregnant women. We performed a pilot intervention study based on the Stages of Motivational Readiness for Change and Social Cognitive Theory to increase walking and encourage a more active lifestyle among pregnant women. We recruited eight women from Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA at <16 weeks gestation. Baseline activity was assessed via the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ). A baseline meeting with each participant included an assessment of stage of change, a discussion of facilitators and barriers to exercise, and a determination of appropriate goals for increased exercise. Participants were provided with stage-matched manuals and an Omron pedometer with which to monitor their activity. At baseline, women reported 21.38 MET hrs/wk of exercise. After one month of follow-up, we observed a 2-fold mean increase in exercise (p=0.02) with 7 of the 8 women achieving the ACOG exercise goals. This pilot provides evidence for the efficacy of an exercise intervention in a diverse sample of pregnant women. Assessment of such an intervention is an essential first step in designing physical activity interventions to reduce risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, low birth weight and prematurity.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should be able to describe the nature of the physical activity intervention, and to describe the degree to which the intervention affected levels of physical activity in this population.

Keywords: Physical Activity, Pregnancy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered