Abstract:
Self-management is an important process to improve weight control behavior and appropriate weight gain among overweight or obese pregnant women. This pretest-posttest, quasiexperimental research aimed to evaluate the effects of self- management program on weight control behavior and appropriate weight gain in overweight or obesity pregnant women. Participants consisted of 50 overweight or obesity pregnant women who received antenatal care services at Jainad Narendra hospital from September 2020-January 2021. Sample who met into the inclusion criteria, were randomly sampled into either experimental group (n= 25) and control group (n= 25). Data were collected by using self-administered weight control behavior questionnaire with content validity index of 1.00. and Cronbachs alpha coefficient of 0.87. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fishers Exact test, Mann-Whitney U and t-test. The results revealed that the experimental group had significantly higher mean score of weight control behavior than those in the control group (t 48 = 3.91, p < .001). Additionally, the participants in the experimental group hadthe proportion of normal weight gain significantly higher than those in the control group (X 2 = 15.71, p < .001). The study findings suggest that nurses in antenatal care unit could apply this self-management program to encourage the overweight or obese pregnant women control their diet and exercise behavior and weight gain.