Knowledge and Attitude of Nigerian Nursing Mothers towards Postnatal Exercise: A Cross-Sectional Survey

The benefits of exercise in pregnancy and postpartum remain largely unexplored among Africans. This study assessed knowledge and attitude of Nigerian nursing mothers towards postnatal exercises. A cross-sectional study of 176 mothers recruited from six selected hospitals from South-West Nigeria was carried out. A three-section questionnaire that assessed socio-demographics, maternal characteristics, knowledge and attitude towards postnatal exercises was employed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data at p<0.05 alpha level. The respondents were relatively young (28.6±5.26 years) and mostly multiparous (54.5%). The most commonly known postnatal exercises were aerobics (35.8%), muscle strengthening (33.5%) and relaxation and breathing (33.5%) exercise respectively. However, swimming (25%) and cycling (18.2%) were rarely known as postnatal exercises. Quick postnatal recovery (67.4%), improvement in body awareness and posture after pregnancy (66.6%) and prevention excess weight gain (63.3%) were mostly considered as benefits of postnatal exercise. Extreme obesity or underweight (31.2%), back pain (29.6%) and muscle weakness (28.2%) after pregnancy were the most implicated contraindications to postnatal exercise. Tiredness and busy schedule (21.9%) and lack of feeling for exercise (20.7%) were the most linked factors for negative attitude towards postnatal exercise. There was significant association between parity and knowledge about benefits (Χ²=7.604; p=0.022) and contraindications (Χ²=7.011; p=0.030) to postnatal exercise respectively. A majority of Nigerian nursing mothers demonstrated positive attitude but had poor knowledge about types, benefits of and contraindications to postnatal exercises. Knowledge about benefit of and contraindication to postnatal exercise was significantly influenced parity.