Counselling on physical activity in Danish antenatal care: A qualitative study of experiences from both the pregnant woman's and the care provider's perspective

Nina Brændstrup; Caroline Borup Roland; Signe de Place Knudsen; Jane M Bendix; Tine D Clausen; Stig Molsted; Bente Stallknecht; Ellen Løkkegaard; Astrid Pernille Jespersen

doi:10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100902

Counselling on physical activity in Danish antenatal care: A qualitative study of experiences from both the pregnant woman's and the care provider's perspective

Sex Reprod Healthc. 2023 Dec:38:100902. doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100902. Epub 2023 Aug 21.

Authors

Nina Brændstrup¹, Caroline Borup Roland², Signe de Place Knudsen², Jane M Bendix³, Tine D Clausen¹, Stig Molsted⁴, Bente Stallknecht⁵, Ellen Løkkegaard⁶, Astrid Pernille Jespersen⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hilleroed, Denmark.
² Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hilleroed, Denmark; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hilleroed, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hilleroed, Denmark.
⁴ Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hilleroed, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁶ Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hilleroed, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁷ The Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Centre for Health Research in Humanities, Karen Blixens Plads 8, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: apj@hum.ku.dk.

PMID: 37660544
DOI: 10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100902

Abstract

Objectives: Physical activity during pregnancy is beneficial to maternal and fetal health, but most pregnant women do not achieve the recommended level of physical activity. To investigate how antenatal care can promote physical activity during pregnancy, this study explores experiences of physical activity counselling from the perspectives of pregnant women and antenatal care providers.

Methods: In a qualitative design with an inductive approach individual semi-structured interviews with 19 pregnant women and seven antenatal care providers were performed and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: The themes "Experiencing inadequate counselling", "Benefiting from individualized guidance", and "Voicing a need for enhanced support" cover the perspectives from the participating pregnant women. They often experienced insufficient physical activity counselling that left them insecure about proper physical activity during pregnancy. The pregnant women desired individualized and concrete advice and early and continuous support. From antenatal care providers the themes "Providers' perceived barriers in counselling", "Balancing the act of counselling", and "Acknowledging potential for enhanced counselling" were identified. They perceived barriers towards counselling including time restraints, lack of interest, and doubts about certain physical activity during pregnancy but expressed trying to adjust the counselling to meet the woman's individual situation. They acknowledged that continuous support during pregnancy and updated knowledge and increased focus among providers might improve physical activity counselling.

Conclusions: Pregnant women received scarce counselling on physical activity in antenatal care, while care providers described several barriers towards counselling on physical activity. Both pregnant women and antenatal care providers recognized opportunities for enhanced physical activity counselling.

Keywords: Antenatal care; Counselling; Physical activity; Pregnancy; Qualitative study.

MeSH terms

Counseling
Denmark
Exercise
Female
Humans
Pregnancy
Pregnant Women*
Prenatal Care*
Qualitative Research