title: Leisure-time physical activity during pregnancy in the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical activity during pregnancy is a poorly investigated subject on population level. The study aimed to describe duration, type and frequency of leisure-time physical activity during pregnancy, and to explore its associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based study was carried out during 2004 in Southern Brazil. A total of 4,471 mothers were interviewed soon after delivery. Physical activity was measured using a questionnaire, developed for the study. Results were obtained by Poisson regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the sample, 14.8% of women reported to engage in some type of physical activity prior to pregnancy and 12.9% during pregnancy. In the first trimester, 10.4% of all mothers engaged in some type of physical activity; 8.5% in the second trimester and 6.5% in the third trimester. Only 194 mothers (4.3%) were active during the whole pregnancy. In the adjusted analysis, leisure-time physical activity was positively associated with schooling, physical activity advice during prenatal care, and family income (p<0.001), being employed during pregnancy (p=0.05), and number of pregnancies (p=0.02). Walking was the most frequent activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of leisure-time physical activity is low among Brazilian pregnant women. Although physical activity is not perceived as being pregnancy-threatening, and current guidelines recommend it, this population's behavior does not seem to be changing. Active lifestyle for both pregnant women and future mothers should be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Av. Duque de Caxias 150, 96030-002 Pelotas, RS, Brazil. coriolis@vetorial.net
authors.forename: Marlos Rodrigues
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.forename: Aluísio J D
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008875:Middle Aged; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires