Women’s reported health behaviours before and during pregnancy: A retrospective study
Objective: This study aimed to determine women’s reported health behaviours (physical activity, diet, weight management) before and during pregnancy, and to identify sources of health information. Design: Retrospective study incorporating quantitative (a self-completed survey) and qualitative (one-o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Sage Publications
2014
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3136 |
| _version_ | 1848744148804304896 |
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| author | Smedley, J. Jancey, Jonine Dhaliwal, Satvinder Zhao, Yun Monteiro, Sarojini MDR Howat, Peter |
| author_facet | Smedley, J. Jancey, Jonine Dhaliwal, Satvinder Zhao, Yun Monteiro, Sarojini MDR Howat, Peter |
| author_sort | Smedley, J. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Objective: This study aimed to determine women’s reported health behaviours (physical activity, diet, weight management) before and during pregnancy, and to identify sources of health information. Design: Retrospective study incorporating quantitative (a self-completed survey) and qualitative (one-on-one interviews) methods. Methodology: Participants were women aged 18 or over; had no pre-existing medical condition that might be exacerbated during pregnancy (e.g. diabetes, heart condition); and had given birth in the last 12 months. Nineteen women agreed to one-on-one interviews and 100 women agreed to complete a mailed questionnaire. Qualitative data and quantitative data were analysed using a descriptive qualitative methodology and by using McNemar’s test for correlated proportions, respectively. Results: Participants reported a significant reduction in their level of physical activity during pregnancy; a significant increase in consumption of fruit, vegetables and fibre, and a decrease in fast food consumption (all p < 0.05). Medical practitioners are the preferred source of health information but seem to provide insufficient information about health behaviours during pregnancy in relation to physical activity, diet and weight management. Conclusion: Women reported eating a healthier diet and reducing their level of physical activity during the antenatal period, compared to pre-pregnancy. There is a need to improve the provision of health information on physical activity, diet and weight management in the antenatal period. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T05:56:52Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-3136 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T05:56:52Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | Sage Publications |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-31362017-09-13T16:02:38Z Women’s reported health behaviours before and during pregnancy: A retrospective study Smedley, J. Jancey, Jonine Dhaliwal, Satvinder Zhao, Yun Monteiro, Sarojini MDR Howat, Peter healthy eating obesity antenatal weight gain physical activity Objective: This study aimed to determine women’s reported health behaviours (physical activity, diet, weight management) before and during pregnancy, and to identify sources of health information. Design: Retrospective study incorporating quantitative (a self-completed survey) and qualitative (one-on-one interviews) methods. Methodology: Participants were women aged 18 or over; had no pre-existing medical condition that might be exacerbated during pregnancy (e.g. diabetes, heart condition); and had given birth in the last 12 months. Nineteen women agreed to one-on-one interviews and 100 women agreed to complete a mailed questionnaire. Qualitative data and quantitative data were analysed using a descriptive qualitative methodology and by using McNemar’s test for correlated proportions, respectively. Results: Participants reported a significant reduction in their level of physical activity during pregnancy; a significant increase in consumption of fruit, vegetables and fibre, and a decrease in fast food consumption (all p < 0.05). Medical practitioners are the preferred source of health information but seem to provide insufficient information about health behaviours during pregnancy in relation to physical activity, diet and weight management. Conclusion: Women reported eating a healthier diet and reducing their level of physical activity during the antenatal period, compared to pre-pregnancy. There is a need to improve the provision of health information on physical activity, diet and weight management in the antenatal period. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3136 10.1177/0017896912469570 Sage Publications fulltext |
| spellingShingle | healthy eating obesity antenatal weight gain physical activity Smedley, J. Jancey, Jonine Dhaliwal, Satvinder Zhao, Yun Monteiro, Sarojini MDR Howat, Peter Women’s reported health behaviours before and during pregnancy: A retrospective study |
| title | Women’s reported health behaviours before and during pregnancy: A retrospective study |
| title_full | Women’s reported health behaviours before and during pregnancy: A retrospective study |
| title_fullStr | Women’s reported health behaviours before and during pregnancy: A retrospective study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Women’s reported health behaviours before and during pregnancy: A retrospective study |
| title_short | Women’s reported health behaviours before and during pregnancy: A retrospective study |
| title_sort | women’s reported health behaviours before and during pregnancy: a retrospective study |
| topic | healthy eating obesity antenatal weight gain physical activity |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3136 |