Informatics Publishing Limited

Chidozie E. Mbada ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile–Ife, NG

Abstract

Cardiovascular response to exercise is a major prescription criterion for determining suitability and safety of exercise. This study assessed the cardiovascular response to six-minute walk test (6MWT) in Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and their healthy controls. This case-control study involved 74 consenting volunteers (37 PLWH and 37 controls). 6MWT was performed on a 30-meter course level walkway following standardized procedure. Data were obtained on participants’ physical characteristics, pre and post-6MWT Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) and Heart Rate (HR). Rate Pressure Product (RPP) was calculated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and inferential statistics of paired and unpaired t-test at 0.05 Alpha level. PLWH and the controls were comparable in age (p=0.976). PLWH had significantly lowered baseline DBP (67.84±10.58 vs. 76.22±10.10mmHg; p=0.001) and post-6MWT DBP (84.32±12.59 vs. 92.43±13.00mmHg; p=0.008) than healthy controls (p<0.05). The post-6MWT cardiovascular parameters were significantly higher than the baseline values for both groups (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in groups mean change scores on SBP (24.05±21.01 vs. 22.43±11.16), DBP (16.49±15.31 vs. 16.22±9.82), HR (19.30±12.62 vs.14.35±10.05) and RPP (4174.6±2572.01 vs.3494.9±1951.93) respectively. Baseline cardiovascular parameters of clinical stage 1 PLWH was normal and comparable with that of the healthy controls. However, PLWH had significantly lower baseline and post-6MWT DBP than the controls’. 6MWT led to significant increase in blood pressure, HR and myocardial oxygen demand in PLWH. The magnitude of cardiovascular response to 6MWT in PLWH was comparable with healthy controls’.

Keywords

Cardiovascular Response, 6MWT, HIV/AIDS, Exercise.

Full Text

   

Chidozie E. Mbada ¹, Olubukayomi E. Adebayo ¹, Adebanjo B. Adeyemi ², Kikelomo E. Afolabi ³, Olabisi A. Akinwande ⁴, Ibidun Alonge ⁵

Affiliations
1 Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, NG
2 Departments of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, NG
3 Department of Nursing Science College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, NG
4 Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NG
5 Department of Physiotherapy, University College Hospital, Ibadan, NG

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Exercise, Knowledge, Attitude, Nursing Mothers, Nigeria, Postpartum.

Full Text