title: Physical activity and energy expenditure: findings from the Ibadan Pregnant Women's Survey.
abstract: Physical activity, if there are no medical caveats, is beneficial to all people including pregnant women. This study examined the level of physical activity in a group of pregnant Nigerian women. Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess the physical activity of 453 pregnant women. The mean age of participants was 30.89 +/- 4.44 years, 222 (49.0%) were sedentary, and only 46 (10.2%) presented with moderate activity level. The highest amount of energy (75.9 MET-h x wk(-1)) was expended on household activities. Women in the third trimester of pregnancy had more than three times the risk of being sedentary (OR = 3.26, 95% CI = 2.11-4.56) but the risk reduced by 58% in gravid > or = 5 women. Most of the pregnant women recorded physical activity that was lower than the recommended level, which could lead to unfavourable health outcomes for mother and child. Efforts to promote physical activity in pregnant women in this environment are desirable.
authors.forename: Ade F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Adeniyi
authors.forename: Omoyemi O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Ogwumike
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors