ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2015
Exercise during pregnancy: knowledge and beliefs of medical practitioners in South Africa: a survey study.
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers.
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed.
- A cross-sectional survey of Australian women's perspectives and experiences of exercise during pregnancy, including women that experience mental illness.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2026Article
- Knowledge, attitudes, and practice towards exercise during pregnancy among primary care physicians affiliated with King Fahad General Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 2025: A cross-sectional study.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2025Article
- Healthcare providers' antenatal physical exercise counseling practice and its associated factors in Southwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Self-Reported Physical Activity Behavior and Practice of Healthcare Professionals During the Second and Third Trimester of Pregnancy in Greece.Clinics and practice · 2025Article
- Healthcare Professionals' Attitudes and Practices According to Their Recommendations on Exercise during the First Trimester of Pregnancy: A Greek Cross-Sectional Study.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Healthcare Professionals' Beliefs and Views towards Exercise during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greece.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Why are pregnant women physically inactive? A qualitative study on the beliefs and perceptions about physical activity during pregnancy.Cadernos de saude publica · 2024Article
- The knowledge of movement experts about stretching effects: Does the science reach practice?PloS one · 2024Article
- UAE Women's Knowledge and Attitudes towards Physical Activity during Pregnancy.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Pelvic Floor Disorders and Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise: A Survey on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Pregnant Women in Northwest Ethiopia.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Article
- Physical exercise and its associated factors among Ethiopian pregnant women: a cross-sectional study based on the theory of planned behavior.BMC psychology · 2022Article
- Exercise During Pregnancy: What Do OB/GYNs Believe and Practice? A Descriptive Analysis.Women's health reports (New Rochelle, N.Y.) · 2022Article
- Baby Steps: Using Intervention Mapping to Develop a Sustainable Perinatal Physical Activity Healthcare Intervention.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Physical Activity Advice and Counselling by Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- "Moving for My Baby!" Motivators and Perceived Barriers to Facilitate Readiness for Physical Activity during Pregnancy among Obese and Overweight Women of Urban Areas in Northern Taiwan.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Knowledge, attitudes and practice of primary care physicians in eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia towards exercise during pregnancy.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2021Article
- Physical activity throughout pregnancy: guideline critical appraisal and implementation tool.The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association · 2021Article
- Physical Activity in Pregnancy: Beliefs, Benefits, and Information-Seeking Practices of Pregnant Women in South Africa.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2021Article
- Effectiveness of an Antenatal-Exercise Counseling Module on Knowledge and Self-Efficacy of Nurses in Northeast Peninsular Malaysia: A Quasi-Experimental Study.The Malaysian journal of medical sciences : MJMS · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundThere is compelling evidence for the benefits of regular exercise during pregnancy, and medical practitioners (MPs) can play an important role in changing antenatal health behaviours. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of South African MPs towards exercise during pregnancy.
methodsA convenience sample of ninety-six MPs working in the private health care sector, including General Practitioners (n = 58), Obstetricians/Gynaecologists (n = 33) and other Specialists (n = 5), participated in this cross sectional, descriptive survey study. A 33-item questionnaire was distributed manually at medical practices and via email to an on-line survey tool. Descriptive statistics and frequency tables were calculated for all questions. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact statistical tests were used to determine the differences in response by age, speciality and years of practice (p < 0.05).
resultsThe majority of practitioners (98%) believe that exercise during pregnancy is beneficial, and were knowledgeable on most of the expected benefits. Seventy-eight percent believed that providing exercise advice is an important part of prenatal care, however only 19% provided informational pamphlets and few (24%) referred to exercise specialists. A large majority (83%) were unaware of the recommended exercise guidelines. Although age and years of practice played no role in this awareness, practitioners who focussed on obstetrics and gynaecology were more likely to be aware of the current guidelines, than those in general practice (p < 0.001).
conclusionAlthough the MPs were largely positive towards exercise during pregnancy, their advice did not always align with the current guidelines. Therefore, better dissemination of available research is warranted, to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and current recommendations for physical activity promotion.
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