Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42091963›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Experiences of physical activity during pregnancy: a phenomenological study among Sri Lankan primigravid women.

Sepalage Nilanthi Chathurika, Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Chathura Rathnayake, Deepika Indumathie Nanayakkara, Sampath Udaya BandaraThennakoon, Abey Rathnayake

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Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sepalage Nilanthi ChathurikaDepartment of Clinical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka. chathurikasepala@dcn.cmb.ac.lk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-5066-3773
Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Chathura RathnayakeDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1797-0754
Deepika Indumathie NanayakkaraDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0819-4239
Sampath Udaya BandaraThennakoonDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0648-614X
Abey RathnayakeDepartment of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy improves maternal and fetal outcomes, yet cultural factors may influence behavior. Despite its advantages, the majority of pregnant women do not follow PA recommendations during pregnancy. Therefore, this study aimed to explore experiences of PA among Sri Lankan pregnant women. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted with primigravid women attending antenatal clinics at a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached (n = 19). Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-step thematic analysis framework. Five themes emerged (1) Modification of PA with some restrictions (2) Avoidance of PA other than self-care activities (3) Increasing sedentary period (4) Focusing on psychological relaxation and (5) Time allocation for leisure activities with number of sub themes. Most participants reported a decline in physical activity compared to the pre-pregnancy period, influenced by fear of fetal harm, physical discomfort, family advice, and culturally embedded beliefs emphasizing rest. Physical activity patterns among Sri Lankan primigravid women shift toward restriction and increased sedentary behavior during pregnancy, largely driven by sociocultural influences and safety perceptions. Culturally sensitive antenatal counseling is essential to promote safe and informed engagement in physical activity.

Indexed as

ExerciseGravidityPregnant PeopleAdultFemaleHumansPregnancySedentary BehaviorSri LankaYoung AdultPhysical activityPregnancyPrimigravidaQualitative studySri Lanka

Identifiers

PMID42091963
PMCPMC13338435

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.