Knowledge, Self-Reported Practices and Factors Associated with Pregnancy-Related Physical Activities among Primigravid Women: A Hospital Based Cross- Sectional Study in Galle, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Engaging in physical activities (PA) during pregnancy provides significant health benefits. Identifying the knowledge and self-reported practices of primigravid women regarding PA is essential for improving maternal outcomes. This study aimed to assess knowledge and self-reported practices on day-to-day PA during pregnancy and factors associated with PA among primigravid women.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 271 primigravid women attending antenatal clinics at the German-Sri Lanka Friendship Hospital for Women, Galle. Participants were recruited using a non-probability convenience sampling method. Data were collected via a pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Based on total possible scores, knowledge was categorized into three equal ranges: poor (0–8), average (9–16), and good (17–25) and practices were categorized into two equal ranges: poor (1–59) and good (60–120). Pearson’s chi-square tests and Fisher’s Exact tests were used to determine associations.
Results: The mean age (±SD) of participants was 25 (±4.8) years. Regarding knowledge of PA, 9.2% had poor knowledge, 49.8% had average knowledge, and 41% had good knowledge. Significant associations were found between knowledge levels and intention of pregnancy, age, level of education, and monthly income (p= 0.001 for all). Knowing the importance of PA during the pregnancy was 100%. Of the sample, 95.2% of participants reported poor self-reported practices of PA. While demographic factors were not significantly associated with practice, fear was identified as a significant factor (p = 0.031), with 94.9% of participants avoiding PA due to fear of threatening to the pregnancy.
Conclusion: A substantial gap exists between knowledge and self-reported practices among primigravid women. While most demonstrated average-to-good knowledge, actual practices were overwhelmingly poor. This highlights the necessity for targeted awareness programs that address psychological barriers and cultural misconceptions to translate high knowledge into active health behaviours.