Health promoting lifestyles and related factors in pregnant women.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to explore health promoting lifestyles and related factors in pregnant women.


METHODS
This was a descriptive study using convenience sampling. Altogether, 172 pregnant women were recruited from a medical center in southern Taiwan. Personal data was collected, and the instruments used included perceived health status, self-efficacy of health behaviors, perception of family or peers' health-promoting behaviors, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP Pi).


RESULTS
The results showed that the standardized total score of health promoting lifestyles was 66.88 (moderate level). The subscales of the HPLP Pi in descending order of standardized scores were as follows: "interpersonal relationships," "health responsibility," "psychological wellness," "nutrition," "stress management" and "physical activity." There were significant differences in the total scores of the HPLP Pi among subjects with different educational level, socioeconomic status, chronic diseases, exercise habits, length of sleep, and perceived health status. Both perception of health-promoting behaviors among family (or peers) and self-efficacy of health behaviors had significantly positive relationships with health-promoting lifestyles. Perception of the family or peers' health-promoting behaviors, self-efficacy of health behaviors, perceived health status and chronic diseases were the four significant predictors of health-promoting lifestyles, accounting for 62.4% of the variance.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study could be used as a reference for prenatal care, nursing education, and maternal / neonatal health policies.
Lin
Yu-Hua
YH
Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Tsai
Eing-Mei
EM
Chan
Te-Fu
TF
Chou
Fan-Hao
FH
Lin
Yu-Ling
YL
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D011247:Pregnancy