ONGPREGNANT WOMENIN CENTERAL ZONE HOSPITALS OF TIGRAY, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

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