DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2016.v04i02.005

Pages: 139-146

Women in poor rural communities often engage in heavy physical activity yet consume diets that are deficient in energy. Pregnant women often do not show an augmentation in kilocalorie intake yet continue with heavy physical work. Strenuous work may alter a pregnant woman’s nutritional status and therefore increase her risk of morbidity, mortality and low gestational weight gain which is a key risk factor for low birth weight. This study aimed to investigate levels of physical activity among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Rongo Sub-District Hospital. Objectives of the study included determining socio-economic factors, determining physical activity patterns and energy expenditure. The study adopted a longitudinal design and comprehensive sampling was used to select a sample of 100 pregnant women for the study. Data was collected by use of structured questionnaires for socioeconomic, and IPAQ for physical activity data. Observation was carried out on 10% of the women to obtain physical activity data. Data was analyzed by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics was used to describe other data. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to test for significant relationships between variables. Energy expenditure on physical activity was found to be averagely 1780 ± 500 std kcal/day. The pregnant women spent 14 hours a day on activity and dedicated most of their time per day on domestic work (37%) and least on economic activities (11%). The study fills the knowledge gap, for a study of this kind has not been done in this locality and is of benefit to future research work, various government departments, local and international agencies, the community and pregnant women. The government and health and nutrition organizations need to monitor pregnant women’s activity patterns more closely in order to provide counselling as well as support to pregnant women.