Abstract:
Back ground: Physical activity during pregnancy time is very important for a woman‟s
overall health especially in increasing or maintains cardio respiratory fitness, reduces the risk
of excessive weight gain during pregnancy and gestational diabetes, symptoms of postpartum
depression. However, the incidence of low physical activity during pregnancy is still
increasing globally including inour country because many women stop physical activity and
choose to take rest instead during pregnancy. As far as my knowledge is concerned there is
no study done in actual study area and there are also limited studies which are done in Tigray,
Ethiopia
Objectives: To assess magnitude physical activity and associatedfactors among
pregnant womenin centeral zone hospitals of Tigray, Ethiopia, from March 1-30/2019
Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study design was conductedamong423study
participants. Systematic random samplinning method was used to select study partcipants.
Data was collected using an interviewer administered Standardized Questionnaire and data
was processed, coded, entered, using epidata version 3.1 Software and transfered to SPSS
vesrion 23 for analysis. .
Result: rural residency (AOR=2.694, 95% CI: (1.638-4.428), college and abave level of
education(AOR=3.507, 95% CI: (1.697-7.246) unplanned pregnancy (AOR=3.975, 95% CI:
(2.306-6.850) and nullparity (AOR=3.130, 95% CI: (1.725-5.680) were significantly
associated with physical acivity.
Conclusion: There is low prevalence of physical activity among pregnant women was 35%.
The associated variables for physical activity were college and abave educational statues,
unplanned pregnancy, and rural residence of participant null parity were association with
physical activity.
Recommendation; local Policy makers and planners should give priority to physical activity.
Health promotion on routine physical exercise should be done by health educators. Health
care providers should give routinely ANC guidance‟s related to physical activity
