Affiliations 

  • 1 Universiti Putra Malaysia
MyJurnal

Abstract

Introduction: Antenatal period is the best time to promote physical activity among women. However, this oppor-tunity is usually missed due to various factors such perceived harm to the baby, tiredness, difficulty to perform the activities, pelvic and back pain, lack of information, as well as low social support. This study determined the associ-ation of social support with the level of physical activity among pregnant women in the district of Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. Methods: A total of 936 antenatal women met the eligibility criteria and were enrolled in a cross-sectional study using proportionate stratified random sampling. Data on social support from the spouse, family and friend were obtained using a 5-point Likert scale while physical activity was assessed using a short version of the Interna-tional Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square test to evaluate the association between the study variables. Results: A total of 880 respondents completed the questionnaire. Out of that, 64.2% were physically inactive. Significant associations were found between social support from the spouse (p < 0.001), family (p = 0.001) and friends (p = 0.004) with the level of physical activity among the respondents. Conclusion: Social support plays a pivotal role in motivating antenatal women to perform physical activity. Thus, health intervention on physical activity among these women should involve the spouse, family members and friends to ensure the success of the program.