The effect of participation in the pregnant information class on the healthy lifestyle behaviors of pregnants: Case-control study

The aim of this study to determine the effect of participation in pregnant information class on healthy lifestyle behaviors of pregnants. The research was conducted as an analytical case-control study between October 2017-May 2018 in Aydın Province Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital. A total of 160 pregnant women; 40 pregnant women participating in the pregnant information class constituted the case group and 120 pregnant women not participating in the pregnant information class constituted the control group. Convenience sampling method was used to determine the sample group. Case and control groups were matched in terms of educational status, employment status and number of living children. "Introductory Information Form" and "Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II" were used to collect the data. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Fisher's Exact and Student T test. The average age of pregnant women in the case group is 28.75±3.76 and the average age of pregnant women in the control group is 26.88±4.20. The highest total score that can be obtained from the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II is 208, and the mean scale total score of pregnant women in the case group (153.20±15.61) is statistically significantly higher than the mean scale total score of pregnant women in the control group (133.28±15.34) (p<0.05) and quite close to the highest score that can be obtained. In the case and control groups, the highest mean of sub-factor score obtained from the scale is spiritual development (Case=29.75±3.04 and Control=27.51±3.75) and the lowest mean of sub-factor score is physical activity (Case=19.20±4.05 and Control=14.45±4.09). The mean scores of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II sub-factors of the pregnant women in the case group were significantly higher than the mean scores of the pregnant women in the control group (p<0.05) statistically. In this study, it was concluded that pregnant women in the case group practiced healthy lifestyle behaviors at a high level, and participation in the pregnant information class positively affected and increased the healthy lifestyle behaviors of pregnant women. Planning the training and practices in the pregnant information classes by taking into account these results can contribute to the protection and improvement of maternal and infant health.