Physical Activity and Sedentary Patterns of Pregnant Women in Southern Spain and the Relationship with Sociodemographic and Obstetric Characteristics: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy presents health benefits for mother and child. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 150 min of moderate-intensity physical activity per week for a healthy pregnancy. The objectives of this study were to describe physical and sedentary activity patterns, estimate the proportion of women meeting PA recommendations, and identify associated sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics in a sample of pregnant women from southern Spain. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, a random sample of 385 pregnant women attending their 20th-week scheduled ultrasound at their referral hospital was selected. Inclusion criteria were being between 18 and 22 gestational weeks pregnant and communicating in Spanish. A face-to-face structured interview was used to collect demographic, obstetric, and PA data, as well as sedentary patterns. Indexes of weekly PA in various domains were computed. Bivariate analyses were conducted to assess the variability of physical and sedentary activities according to sociodemographic and obstetric variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 84.4% of participants engaged in some type of PA and 73.7% met WHO PA requirements. Higher leisure PA was associated with higher education (p < 0.05) and first-time pregnancy (p < 0.01). Higher work PA was linked to lower education (p < 0.01), being born outside Spain (p < 0.05), and later pregnancy awareness (p < 0.01). Higher sedentary daily time was associated with higher education (p < 0.01), speaking Spanish as a child (p < 0.05), and first-time pregnancy (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Most pregnant women in this study met PA recommendations. Correlates of leisure PA differ from those regarding work PA.

Keywords: Spain; correlates; guidelines; patterns; physical activity; pregnancy; sedentary behaviour.

Figure 1

Average number of weekly minutes of physical activity in leisure time according to educational level.

Figure 2

Average weekly minutes of physical activity at work according to educational level.

Figure 3

Average weekly minutes of physical activity at work according to country of birth.

Figure 4

Average MET-minutes per week according to educational level.

Figure 5

Average daily minutes of sedentary behaviour according to educational level.