Introduction:

Physical activity during pregnancy can be useful in the prevention of gestational complications.

Objective:

To estimate the prevalence of physical activity in adult Colombian pregnant women and its associated factors.

Materials and methods:

A secondary analysis of data from the 2015 National Nutrition Survey in Colombia was conducted. The total sample included 906 pregnant women. Leisure-time, commuting, and global physical activity were measured with the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Factors associated with PA were evaluated through negative binomial regression models.

Results:

The prevalence of physical activity in pregnant women was 12.57% (95% CI=8.41- 18.38), 28.66% (95% CI=23.29-34.70), and 36.33% (95% CI=30.92-42.11) in the leisuretime, commuting and global domains, respectively. Factors associated with leisure-time physical activity were living in Bogotá (prevalence ratio, PR=2.41; 95% CI=1.16-4.99), being in the third gestational trimester (PR=2.13; 95% CI=1.17-3.87), obtaining access to physical activity programs (PR=1.75; 95% CI=1.07-2.87), having a high school education (PR=0.51; 95% CI=0.29-0.91), and being in the second (PR=0.45; 95% CI=0.24-0.81), third and fourth quartiles of wealth (PR=0.43; 95% CI=0.23-0.80). Factors associated with physical activity while commuting were having at least one child (PR=1.60; 95% CI=1.14-2.24), living in Bogotá (PR=1.84; 95% CI=1.23-2.73), living with a partner (PR=0.66; 95% CI=0.49-0.89), and completing between one and four prenatal care sessions (PR=0.53; 95% CI=0.37-0.76).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of physical activity in pregnant Colombian women is worryingly low. Programs and projects aimed at promoting physical activity during pregnancy are needed.

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