Factors associated with compliance to a course of physical exercises for a selected group of primigravida mothers in Sri Lanka

The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with compliance to a course of exercises administered for a selected group of primigravida mothers in second trimester. Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional and qualitative study performed at a Medical Officer of Health area in Kegalle district. Study population was a group of postnatal mothers who had taken part in the course of exercises from second trimester, for a period of 16 weeks. Sample size was 138 postnatal mothers. Study instruments were a self-administered questionnaire to obtain baseline data, psychological state and compliance to exercises, a diary and an interviewer administered questionnaire for views of husband and household members. Results: There were statistically significant associations between maternal age being less than or equal to 30 years and increase regularity of exercises (p 0.05) between psychological distress status at six weeks postpartum and exercise regularity. There was a statistically significant association (p Conclusions: Younger age, absence of physical symptoms and absence of depressive symptoms is significantly associated with regularity of exercises as opposed to irregularity