Women's physical activity and pregnancy outcome: a longitudinal analysis from the Philippines
Barnes, D.L.; Adair, L.S.; Popkin, B.M.
International Journal of Epidemiology 20(1): 162-172
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5771 PMID: 2066216 DOI: 10.1093/ije/20.1.162Document Number: 314558
The authors assessed the effects of physical activity on pregnancy outcome in 2741 Filipino women identified during pregnancy as part of a 2-year longitudinal study. Specific elements of physical activity hypothesized to be relevant to pregnancy outcome were posture, energy expenditure, and physical stress. Variables were developed for 9 household and 48 formal and informal economic activities. Analyses were stratified by whether the women performed formal waged work outside the home, income-related activity at home, or were economically inactive. Results show that traditional definitions of physical activity and work based on participation in the formal labor force ignore a sizeable amount of home economic production, as well as the physical demands of housework. The authors saw no difference in risk of low birthweight or preterm delivery in economically active compared to economically inactive women. However, they did find that increased amounts of standing activity affected pregnancy outcome in certain groups of women. Accurate assessment of the effects of physical activity during pregnancy must examine specific components of the activity, rather than relying on formal employment as a proxy for exposure.