Mommas on the move: A prenatal physical activity program

The purpose of this study was to conduct a process evaluation of a pilot program, Mommas on the Move (MOM) Prenatal Physical Activity Program, which was aimed at increasing physical activity behaviors of pregnant women. Three focus group sessions were conducted to gather information regarding pregnant women's preferences and needs regarding a prenatal exercise program. Based on feedback from the focus groups, the MOM program was developed and implemented for pregnant women in rural southwest Virginia twice a week for 8 consecutive weeks. Each session consisted of both didactic and experiential programmatic components. Participants were provided with heart rate monitors, pedometers, resistance bands, and educational materials. A thorough process evaluation was conducted to provide insights as to whether the pilot program was implemented as planned, to assess the level of participation and participant satisfaction, as well as to discover perceived changes in participants' knowledge, attitudes, and physical activity levels. The process evaluation included extensive documentation of intervention delivery, including such items as how many participants participated (based on logs completed by mothers), level of participation, general feedback on mothers' perception of program (e.g. likelihood of adopting and maintaining physical activity, materials that were well received or not used, perceptions of how the program changed their knowledge, attitudes, and physical activity levels), and the mothers' feedback on their level of satisfaction with the program overall. Implications of the process evaluation will be instrumental in guiding future implementation efforts.