Recreational Exercise Indices on Health Status of Pregnant Women Ante – Natal Sessions in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State

Abstract

Exercise as a type of physical activity, planned structured and repetitive bodily movement requiring physical or mental efforts in executing to improve health status. Pregnant women are advised to engage in mild physical fitness during the antenatal session doing so will enhance safe delivery of the unborn fetus and keep the mother healthier. Inability to comply may lead to maternal mortality rate. This study therefore, examined the recreational exercise indices on health status of pregnant women ante - natal sessions in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara state. The objective of the study were to; (i) assess the knowledge of recreational exercise on health status of pregnant women; (ii) evaluate the effectiveness of recreational exercises on health status of pregnant women and (iii) examine the consistency of recreational exercises on health status of pregnant women attending antenatal session in Ilorin metropolis in Kwara state. A descriptive research design of survey method was used with the population that consisted of 3000 (100%) pregnant women from university of Ilorin teaching hospital (UITH) and general hospital Ilorin Kwara state for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 350 (857.14%) respondents of the total population. The researchers - developed questionnaire was used and critically examined and reviewed. Test re-test was ascertained the reliability with co-efficient of (0.76). Data collection was adequately conducted. Frequency, percentages and chi square (x2) were used to analyze the formulated hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. The findings from the study were that; i. ii. iii. Knowledge of recreational exercise significantly influences the health of pregnant women antenatal session in Ilorin metropolis with calculated x2 value of 62.537 >16.92 with 9 degree of freedom at 0.05 alpha level. Achievement of recreational exercise significantly influence the health status of pregnant women antenatal session in Ilorin Metropolis with calculated x2 value of 67.288 >16.92 with 9 degree of freedom at 0.05 alpha level. Consistency of recreational exercise significantly influence the health status of pregnant women antenatal session in Ilorin Metropolis with calculated x2 value of 53.408 >16.92 with 9 degree of freedom at 0.05 alpha level. Based on the findings, the study concluded that knowledge of recreational exercise, achievement of recreational exercise and consistency of recreational exercise significantly influenced the health status of Pregnant women in Ilorin metropolis Kwara state. The study recommended based on the conclusion that recreational exercise for pregnant women should be approved in various sporting organizations and gyms, in order to reduce health problems faced by women during childbirth or after birth, pregnant women should be encouraged to engage in light recreational exercise and make it a daily routine to enable them prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy and maternal morbidity. KEY WORDS: Effect: Recreational exercise: Pregnancy: Antenatal clinic.