Abstract:
This descriptive research aimed to describe the relationships between personal factors (age, income, educational level, number of pregnancy and gestational age), perceived benefits of exercise, perceived barriers to exercise, perceived self-efficacy of exercise and exercise behaviors of pregnant women, including finding which variables could predict exercise behaviors of pregnant women. A sample of 240 pregnant women at the Department of Antenatal Care, Health Promotion Hospital Region 8, Nakhonsawan, Thailand was recruited by using purposive sampling. All data were collected using questionnaires, including a personal characteristics form, exercise behavior questionnaire, perceived benefits of/barriers to exercise scale, and perceived self-efficacy of exercise questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearsons Product Moment Correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The results revealed that pregnant women had moderate exercise behavior, moderate perceived benefits of exercise, low perceived barriers to exercise, and low perceived self-efficacy of exercise. Age, educational level and gestational age were positively correlated to exercise behaviors. All variables, including age, income, educational level, number of pregnancy, gestational age, perceived benefits of exercise, perceived barriers to exercise, and perceived self-efficacy of exercise could jointly explain 16.5% of variance in exercise behaviors of pregnant women with statistical significance (p < .001). Therefore, these findings partially support Penders Health Promotion Model. Based on results of this study, nurses who provide care for pregnant women should assess exercise behavior and related factors contributing to exercise in pregnant women.