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. 2023 Nov 28;15(23):4939.
doi: 10.3390/nu15234939.

Enablers and Barriers Related to Preconception Physical Activity: Insights from Women of Reproductive Age Using Mixed Methods

Pragya Kandel  1 , Siew Lim  2 , Michelle Dever  1 , Prabhat Lamichhane  3 , Helen Skouteris  1   4 , Sinead Currie  5 , Briony Hill  1
Affiliations

Enablers and Barriers Related to Preconception Physical Activity: Insights from Women of Reproductive Age Using Mixed Methods

Pragya Kandel et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Engaging in regular preconception physical activity (PA) is associated with benefits, including improved cardiovascular health and mental well-being. However, most women do not meet PA recommendations in the preconception period. This study aimed to investigate enablers and barriers related to PA in preconception women using a sequential mixed method design. An online survey was followed by Zoom interviews with women of reproductive age (aged 18-45 years). A weaving approach and the Capability Opportunity Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model were used to integrate and present the data. Seven hundred and eighty-eight non-pregnant women from Australia, India, and the US completed the quantitative survey, and 13 Australian-based women participated in a qualitative interview. Physical activity levels were associated with having social support, a desire to improve body image, and becoming a healthier person. Women encountered barriers such as misconceptions about PA, competing priorities, financial constraints, and a lack of accessibility. Enablers for participation in PA included knowledge of its importance, a desire to be healthier, weight loss, social support, and having goals. The multifaceted and intricate nature of enablers and barriers for preconception PA lays the groundwork for developing tailored interventions and policies aimed at promoting preconception PA among women.

Keywords: PA; barriers; behaviour change; enablers; mixed method; preconception; women of reproductive age.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of participants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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