funmilola adenike faremi

The African culture seems to play a major prohibiting role in physical exercise during pregnancy and immediate postpartum. This study was designed to assess practice and pattern of antenatal and postnatal exercise among Nigerian women. Three hundred and sixty-five women (189 pregnant women and 179 nursing mothers) from six selected hospitals in south-west Nigeria participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were obtained on socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, and practice of antenatal and postnatal exercise. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data at P<0.05 alpha level. The mean age of all the respondents was 28.9± 4.63 years. A majority of the pregnant women responders were nulliparous (39.2%) while the nursing mother responders were mostly multiparous (54.5%). Prevalence for engagement in physical exercise was 81.9% and mostly based on self-prescription (35.5%) and prescription by nurses (28.8%). Antenatal and postnatal exercise practice was 84.7% (160/189) and 79.0% (139/176), respectively. Aerobic (43.5%) and stretching (33.4%) were the most common type of physical exercises. Exercise frequency was mostly 1-2 times per week (40.8%). There was significant association between exercise practice and education level (χ2=18.795; P=0.001). Engagement in antenatal and postnatal exercise among Nigerian pregnant and nursing women was high and mostly based on self-prescription. Education level significantly influence physical exercise practice among Nigerian women with aerobic and stretching as the predominant exercises in pregnancy and postpartum.

The African culture seems to play a major prohibiting role in physical exercise during pregnancy and immediate postpartum. This study was designed to assess practice and pattern of antenatal and postnatal exercise among Nigerian women. Three hundred and sixty-five women (189 pregnant women and 179 nursing mothers) from six selected hospitals in south-west Nigeria participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were obtained on socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, and practice of antenatal and postnatal exercise. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data at P<0.05 alpha level. The mean age of all the respondents was 28.9± 4.63 years. A majority of the pregnant women responders were nulliparous (39.2%) while the nursing mother responders were mostly multiparous (54.5%). Prevalence for engagement in physical exercise was 81.9% and mostly based on self-prescription (35.5%) and prescription by nurses (28.8%). Antenatal and postnatal exercise practice was 84.7% (160/189) and 79.0% (139/176), respectively. Aerobic (43.5%) and stretching (33.4%) were the most common type of physical exercises. Exercise frequency was mostly 1-2 times per week (40.8%). There was significant association between exercise practice and education level (χ2=18.795; P=0.001). Engagement in antenatal and postnatal exercise among Nigerian pregnant and nursing women was high and mostly based on self-prescription. Education level significantly influence physical exercise practice among Nigerian women with aerobic and stretching as the predominant exercises in pregnancy and postpartum.

Hand Grip Strength (HGS) is a predictor of upper extremity function, and changes in muscles strength and physical function and capabilities to undertake activities of daily living. Despite toll of pregnancy on musculoskeletal system, assessment of HGS in antenatal care is not a routine practice yet.

The current study aimed to compare HGS in pregnant and non-pregnant females and also investigated the correlation of HGS among the groups.

The current case control study included 174 females (87 pregnant and age-matched non-pregnant controls respectively). HGS was assessed using a hand held Jamar dynamometer. Body adiposity was assessed by a Bioelectric Impedance Analysis machine. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at P < 0.05.

The results showed that the pregnant and non-pregnant subjects could be compared regarding the age (29.7 ± 5.3 vs. 28.2 ± 5.8 years; P = 0.440). There was significant difference in dominant HGS (26.8 ± 8.9 vs. 29.3 ± 7.1 kgf; P = 0.044) and non-dominant HGS (24.7 ± 8.5 vs. 28.6 ± 8.4 kgf; P = 0.002) between pregnant and non-pregnant subjects, respectively. Physical characteristics weakly correlated with HGS for both dominant and non-dominant hands [correlation (r) ranges from 0.00 - 0.250]. Measures of adiposity significantly correlated with HGS in pregnant and non-pregnant females, respectively (P < 0.05). However, there were significant increases in the measures of adiposity with high parity, gravidity, and advances in stage of pregnancy (P < 0.05).

The current study revealed that pregnant females had significantly lower HGS compared with non-pregnant ones. High parity and gravidity and later stage of pregnancy led to significantly lower HGS. Higher level of adiposity led to poorer performance of HGS in females. It is recommended to evaluate HGS in antenatal care, which may have diagnostic and prognostic benefits.