LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN HARARI REGIONAL STATE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Physical activity is an essential strategy to reduce obstetric complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes during pregnancy and its sequel later in life. It helps to maintain a healthy gestational weight, sleep better, and prevent varicose veins, swelling, and back pain. In doing so, it helps in reducing preterm births and cesarean delivery, anxiety and depression, and improving fitness. However, there was inadequate information on physical activity and related factors of pregnant women in Ethiopia and the current study area. Objective: To assess the level of physical activity and associated factors among pregnant women attending public health facilities in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, from 15 December 2023 to 15 January 2024 Method: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 435 randomly selected pregnant women attending public health facilities in Harari Region, Eastern Ethiopia. A pretested and structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from the participants through a face-to-face interview. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the participants' characteristics and estimate the level of physical activity. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors significantly associated with the level of physical activity of pregnant women. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (with a 95% confidence interval) was used to report association and statistical significance declared at P-value<0.05. Result: The findings indicate that 50.1% of pregnant women engaged in good level of physical activity. Women attending health center had significantly higher odds of engaging in good physical activity [AOR] = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.85–4.26). Women aged 25-34 had nearly twice the odds of engaging in good physical activity compared to younger women (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.25–3.02). Urban women had increased odds of engaging in good physical activity compared to their rural counterparts (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.17–2.91). Additionally, women with a good perceived benefits of physical activity had nearly five times the odds of participating in physical activity (AOR = 4.78, 95% CI: 3.12–7.31). Conclusion: The findings reveal a significant low physical activity level among pregnant women, with a notable percentage engaging in light sedentary activities. Attending health center, younger women, those residing in urban areas, and a positive perception of the benefits of physical activity significantly associated with good physical activity. These results highlight xii the urgent need for targeted interventions to promote physical activity among pregnant women, particularly through improving access to antenatal care and addressing barriers related to location and perception of physical activity benefits