Physical activity and its influencing factors among working pregnant women in Minhang district of Shanghai city

ObjectiveTo examine the status and influencing factors of physical activity(PA)among working pregnant women in Minhang district of Shanghai city.MethodsA questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 2 170 pregnant women residing in Shanghai≥6 months and with stable employment during the pregnancy from May 2011 through May 2012.ResultsThe most prevalent PA among the working pregnant women was transportational PA but only 26.77% of the women participating transportational PA and the ratio of the women taking working PA,transportational PA,and leisure-time PA actively were 4.38%,9.26%,and 1.11%,respectively.The average daily sedentary time of the women was about 7 hours.Among the women,age was positively associated with the participation of leisure-time moderate physical activity(MPA),while negatively with that of working MPA;the participation of transportational PA was positively associated with age,but negatively with gestational weeks and family economic level;and the women being primipara were more likely to take transportational PA,but not MPA during working.ConclusionThe overall PA was at a low level,with a relatively higher level of transportational PA,and PA during pregnancy was associated with age,gestational weeks,family economic level,and whether being primipara among the working pregnant women in Shanghai.