Published Paper Details:

Background and purpose: The purpose of the study is to find the knowledge, attitude and belief of medical practitioner towards exercise during pregnancy. No such study had been published or reported till date in India regarding same, which have measured or portrayed actual scenario of knowledge and belief of medical practitioners towards exercise during pregnancy. With the above mentioned reasons, a strong need for this study is identified and planning to conduct a survey amongst medical practitioners of Bangalore urban. Hence, the purpose of the study is to find the knowledge, attitude and belief of Bangalore medical practitioners towards exercise during pregnancy in Bangalore Urban Community. Method: Number of 120 subjects were screened for the study purpose who were fitted in inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study was conducted at Bangalore. It was a Convenience sampling method. Duration of the study was single time study. Results: Most obstetricians were inclined to recommend mild over moderate exercise. Thus, there is a need for paradigm shift in how activity during pregnancy is viewed, as well as improved accuracy of the advice given. Healthcare providers should be reminded that in the absence of pathology or health risk to mother and/or foetus, pregnancy is a physiological state with benefits to be gained from exercise. Conclusion: The medical practitioners appears to largely support the belief that exercise is beneficial during pregnancy, and believe that they have a role to play in exercise promotion on a primary care level, but lacked accurate specifics with regard to exercise prescription (mode, frequency, intensity and duration) and are not adequately promoting it to their patients.