Evaluation of the "healthy lifestyle behaviours in pregnancy scale" on the pregnants applying to Ankara City Hospital, determining the factors related to the scale and its subscales

Introduction: Our study was designed cross-sectionally to evaluate the healthy lifestyle behaviors of pregnant women who applied to Ankara City Hospital and to determine the factors affecting healthy life behaviors during pregnancy. Method: Pregnant women with no known complications were asked to fill in the HLBPS and Question Form for two months. Dependent variables are HLBPS subscales, vaginal douching, smoking and alcohol use. Statistical evaluation was made on the questionnaire forms of 604 participants in total. Results: The education level of 37% of the participants is associate degree or higher. 61% are in the third trimester. 20.2% of them are working in an income generating job and 4 pregnant women are single. 9.1% of pregnant women smoke. 44% of the pregnant women making vaginal douche and 62.4% of them do not have a specific obstetrician and gynecologist with regular follow-up. Approximately 20% of them have a chronic disease and the most commonly used chronic drug is levothyroxine. According to our findings, physical activity is the subject that pregnant women need information and support at the highest rate, apart from smoking and vaginal douching. Acceptance of pregnancy and physical activity scores are higher in first pregnancies than in fourth and above pregnancies. Acceptance of pregnancy is weaker in unwanted pregnancies. Hygiene scores are lower at primary and below education levels. While working pregnant women have higher scores on travel and hygiene, smoking is less among housewives. Pregnant women with less income than their expenses are at higher risk for healthy nutrition behaviors. Nutrition, travel and HLBPS total scores of pregnant women who are followed up by a specific branch specialist are higher. Age and hygiene scores show a positive correlation. Pregnancy responsibility and hygiene scores are lower in the third trimester. Vaginal douching is more common in low education level and housewives. Conclusion: In primary care, interventions can be made starting from the preconceptional period to motivate women to healthy lifestyle behaviors. Antenatal care providers can determine their priorities by considering their personal and familial characteristics while informing pregnant women about healthy living behaviors. Evaluation of healthy lifestyle behaviors and related factors in pregnancy in larger studies will contribute to the determination of issues to be prioritized in short outpatient clinics.