ATTITUDES AND PRACTICE OF EXPECTANT MOTHERS TOWARDS EXERCISE AMONG ANTENATAL WOMEN IN KAFANCHAN, KADUNA STATE

Abstract

The study was carried out to help find out the attitude and practice of exercise during pregnancy among antenatal mothers in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government, Kaduna state. The survey research design was used for the study and the total population of study was 250 which was the number of pregnant mothers on antenatal visits for the period of three (3) months. A structural questionnaire of three sections was used to elicit information on the attitude, and practices of exercise among pregnant mothers, factors affecting exercise among antenatal mothers and the problems associated with exercise among the antenatal mothers. The instrument was given to three (3) experts from the Department of Physical Health Education from the Faculty of Education University of Jos whose input on the instrument was very helpful. It was pretested using respondent with similar characteristics to those in the area of study and a reliability coefficient of 0.78 was obtained which was seen as a reliable figure for the instrument to be used for the present study. The positive practices among antenatal mothers on exercise in Kafanchan, Jema’a local Government Area of Kaduna state shows that exercise facilitates rapid post natal recovery (x̅=1.81), exercise during pregnancy is necessary (x̅=1.76).The practice of exercise among antenatal mothers was that antenatal mothers practice exercise during pregnancy 218(87.2%).The factors affecting exercise among antenatal mothers are enjoyment of physical activity 178(71.2%). It was recommended among others that since the statement that some respondents have a lot of childcare to handle exercise during pregnancy therefore, this should be noted by health personnel so that they can organize workshops as well as use films for enlightening antenatal mothers on the importance and the danger associated with antenatal exercise in the community.