title: Women's perspectives on falls and fall prevention during pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury in women. During pregnancy, even a minor fall can result in adverse consequences. Evidence to inform effective and developmentally appropriate pregnancy fall prevention programs is lacking. Early research on pregnancy fall prevention suggests that exercise may reduce falls. However, acceptability and effectiveness of pregnancy fall prevention programs are untested.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To better understand postpartum women's perspective and preferences on fall prevention strategies during pregnancy to formulate an intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 31 postpartum women using descriptive qualitative methodology. Discussion of falls during pregnancy and fall prevention strategies was guided by a focus group protocol and enhanced by 1- to 3-minute videos on proposed interventions. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo 10 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emerging themes were environmental circumstances and physical changes of pregnancy leading to a fall, prevention strategies, barriers, safety concerns, and marketing a fall prevention program. Wet surfaces and inappropriate footwear commonly contributed to falls. Women preferred direct provider counseling and programs including yoga and Pilates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fall prevention strategies tailored to pregnant women are needed. Perspectives of postpartum women support fall prevention through provider counseling and individual or supervised exercise programs.
authors.affiliation: Dorothy Brewin is an Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA. She can be reached via e-mail at dorothy_brewin@uml.edu Angela Naninni is an Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA. She can be reached via e-mail at angela_nannini@uml.edu.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brewin
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naninni
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors