Effects of a prenatal yoga programme on the discomforts of pregnancy and maternal childbirth self-efficacy in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
to evaluate a yoga programme provided to primigravidas in the third trimester of pregnancy with the aim of decreasing the discomforts associated with pregnancy and increasing childbirth self-efficacy.


METHODS
non-randomised controlled experimental study.


METHODS
a hospital in northern Taiwan.


METHODS
the target population was primigravidas at 26-28 weeks of gestation (no high-risk pregnancies) who had not engaged in regular exercise or yoga for at least one year. The study included 88 individuals; 43 in the control group and 45 in the experimental group who took part in the prenatal yoga programme.


METHODS
the duration of the prenatal yoga programme was 12-14 weeks, with at least three sessions per week. Each workout lasted for 30 minutes.


RESULTS
women who took part in the prenatal yoga programme reported significantly fewer pregnancy discomforts than the control group (38.28 vs 43.26, z=-2.58, p=0.01) at 38-40 weeks of gestation. The subjects who participated in the yoga programme exhibited higher outcome and self-efficacy expectancies during the active stage of labour (104.13 vs 83.53, t=3.24, p=0.002; 99.26 vs 77.70, t=3.99, p ≤ 0.001) and the second stage of labour (113.33 vs 88.42, t=3.33, p=0.002; 102.19 vs 79.40, t=3.71, p ≤ 0.001) compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
the provision of booklets and videos on yoga during pregnancy may contribute to a reduction in pregnancy discomforts and improved childbirth self-efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
this yoga programme provides health-care professionals with an evidence-based intervention.
Sun
Yi-Chin
YC
Department of Nursing, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hung
Ya-Chi
YC
Chang
Yuanmay
Y
Kuo
Su-Chen
SC
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D013624:Taiwan; D015013:Yoga; D055815:Young Adult