Physical activity, self perception levels and related factors of pregnancy in the COVID-19 pandemic

Aim: It was conducted to examine the physical activity and self-perception levels of pregnant women, the relationship between them and the affecting factors in the Covid-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The descriptive-analytical study was conducted with 382 pregnant women who applied to the Pregnancy Polyclinic of Aydın Adnan Menderes University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, between 8 December 2021 and 27 June 2022. Data were collected with the Pregnant Descriptive Form, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ), and the Development of a Self-perception of Pregnants Scale (DSPS). Descriptive data are presented as mean, median (25-75th percentile) for continuous variables, and numbers (percentage) for categorical variables. Analytical statistics (hypothesis test), the relationship between categorical variables were evaluated with the four-eyed (or Fisher's exact test) or multi-well chi-square test. In the analysis of research data, descriptive statistics and number, percentage, mean and median (25-75 percentile) and four-eyed (or fisher exact test) or multi-well chi-square test, Mann Whitney-U test, Kruskal Wallis Test and Spearman Correlation analysis has been evaluated with, Mann Whitney-U test (with Bonferoni correction) was used to compare two post hoc groups in those that were statistically significant. Results: The median age of the pregnant women participating in the study is 27.0 (24.0 - 31.0) and the median value of the Body Mass Index is 25.5 (22.9 - 28.0). Pregnant women; 42.9% of them were high school graduates, 69.4% of them did not work in any job, 67.5% of them had income equal to their expenses, 45.3% of them lived in the district for the longest time, 80.4% of them was found to have a nuclear family structure. The median value of the participants' gestational week was 26.0 (21.0 – 30.0), the median number of pregnancies was 2.0 (1.0 – 2.0), the median number of living children was 1.0 (0.0 – 1, 0) and the median value of the number of follow-ups in the last pregnancy was 1.0 (1.0 – 1.0). 79.6% of the pregnants had a planned pregnancy, 63.4% of the pregnancies were followed up by the doctor, 81.2% were informed about the pregnancy, 68.6% were informed about the birth, 67.5% were pregnant. It was determined that 92.9% of them did not attend the pregnant education class, 89.8% of them felt happiness and positive emotions when they first learned about pregnancy, and 97.9% of them were ready to become a mother. It was determined that 85.6% of the spouses participate in housework and child care. It was determined that 97.1% of the pregnant women did not have Covid-19, and 94.5% were never quarantined. The median self-perception scale score of the pregnant women was 38.0 (35.0 – 40.0), the median of the maternal perception sub-dimension was 28.0 (27.0 – 28.0), the median of the body perception sub-dimension was 8.0 (10.0 – 13,0), it was determined that 255 (66.8%) of the pregnant women were inactive when evaluated according to IPAQ. In the comparison of the IPAQ and DSPS total scores of the pregnant women who participated in the study, the median value of the inactive ones was 38.0 (35.0 - 41.0) and the median value of the active ones was 37.0 (34.0 - 39.0) according to IPAQ statistical difference wasn't found (p = 0.052). Conclusion and Suggestions: In line with the findings obtained from the research, it was concluded that there was no relationship between the physical activity and self-perception levels of pregnant women in the Covid-19 pandemic. It was concluded that variables such as education level, income status and employment status, the number of follow-ups during pregnancy, the follower, and the status of being informed about baby care affect physical activity status. BMI, family structure, number of pregnancies, number of children, number of follow-ups during pregnancy, being a planned pregnancy, the person doing the follow-up, getting information about the birth, participating in the pregnant education class, feeling ready to be a mother, feeling when she first learned about pregnancy, spouse's housework and baby It has been concluded that variables such as participation in the care of the pregnant women affect the self-perception of pregnant women. It is recommended that nurses and midwives be aware of the self-perception levels of pregnant women in the Covid-19 pandemic, and support their increase in appropriate conditions by evaluating their physical activity status. Key Words: Covid-19, Nursing, Physical activity, Pregnancy, Self-perception.