Online Program

295277
Structural influences of women's preconception physical activity status


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Cheryl A. Vamos, PhD, MPH, Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Haichun Sun, PhD, School of Physical Education and Exercise Science, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Sara Flory, PhD, School of Physical Activity and Exercise Science, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Rita DeBate, PhD, MPH, FAED, FAAHB, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Erika Thompson, PhD, MPH, CPH, Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Laura Merrell, MPH, CPH, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Background: Preconception health is recognized as a critical component during the reproductive years and influences optimal pregnancy and birth outcomes. Specifically, a Healthy People 2020 objective is to increase the proportion of women who had a healthy weight prior to pregnancy. While intrapersonal barriers to preconception physical activity among women have been studied, the structural and macro-level influences are unknown. This study examines the structural influences of preconception physical activity among women.

Methods: Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were limited to women (Wave III; age 18-28; n=5,798) and excluded respondents who were pregnant, physically disabled, and missing data. The outcome variable was having at least 5 instances of moderate-vigorous physical activity in one week. Structural predictor variables focused on respondents' neighborhoods (e.g., crime; vehicle availability; racial/ethnic diversity). Survey-weighted logistic regression was used.

Results: Few women (26.6%) reported having a high level of physical activity. Women were less likely to report high levels of physical activity if they lived in areas that had more crime (OR=0.72), homes without a vehicle (OR=0.71), higher proportions of persons without a high school education (OR=0.54), and non-White residents (OR=0.66). Adjusted analysis revealed only lack of a high school education (AOR=0.57) was a significant predictor of high levels of physical activity among preconception women.

Discussion: Findings suggest that neighborhood composition may have an impact on preconception physical activity status. Subsequently, efforts should be targeted locally to improve the structural conditions that facilitate physical activity among preconception women, thus ultimately improving pregnancy/birth outcomes.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the importance of physical activity as a critical component of preconception health. Examine structural influences of physical activity among women during the preconception period. Discuss future research, practice and policy that could facilitate physical activity among women during the preconception period.

Keyword(s): Physical Activity, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the lead of this study, and have conducted previous research on maternal and child health, chronic disease, and preconception health, including physical activity during pregnancy.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.