Developmental trajectories of health‐promoting behaviours among pregnant women: A longitudinal study

Abstract

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to estimate differences in health-promoting behaviour levels throughout the pregnancy trimesters, to identify distinct patterns of health-promoting behaviour trajectories during pregnancy and to evaluate predictors of these trajectory group memberships. BACKGROUND: Promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours during pregnancy could decrease devastating outcomes for the mother and foetus. However, there is currently limited insight into the dynamics of health-promoting behaviours during pregnancy. DESIGN: An observational longitudinal study. METHODS: 158 pregnant women were recruited from June 2020 to June 2021 in Qingdao, China. The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile was used to assess health-promoting behaviours. Latent growth model was performed to compare health-promoting behaviours at different time points. Group-based trajectory model was applied to identify health-promoting behaviour trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression was adopted to determine the predictors of trajectory group memberships. We used the STROBE checklist to report this study. RESULTS: The entire sample of pregnant women experienced a significant increase in health-promoting behaviours during pregnancy. Three trajectories were identified including a 'low-increase behaviour trajectory (20.1% of sample)', a 'moderate-increase behaviour trajectory (58.0% of sample)' and a 'stable then increased behaviour trajectory (21.9% of sample)'. Low maternal sense of coherence, lack of pre-pregnancy exercise habit, artificial insemination and low monthly family income were significantly associated with the low-increase behaviour trajectory. High self-efficacy and pre-pregnancy exercise habit were significantly associated with the stable then increased behaviour trajectory. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women exhibit different health-promoting behaviours throughout the pregnancy trimesters. Meanwhile, three trajectories were identified among pregnant women. Thus, more attentions should be paid on early identification and targeted intervention in a future study. RELEVANCE OF CLINICAL PRACTICE: Healthcare providers should pay closer and earlier attention to identify women in the low-increase trajectory subgroup at the outset of pregnancy. Similarly, increased efforts should be made to improve maternal self-efficacy and develop good pre-pregnancy exercise habit in future study.

Topics & Concepts