Makinde Olufemi
Background: Antenatal education programs including prenatal exercises are designed by midwives in many hospitals in Nigeria. It is believed that exercises help to improve health and enhance safe delivery of pregnant mothers but researches in Nigeria are yet to challenge the efficacy of this approach. Aim: To examine the usefulness of prenatal exercise as perceived by pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital LTH Osogbo Osun State. \Methods: A descriptive survey research design was used for this study. The population for this study comprises of pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinics both in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Osogbo and the Community LAUTECH Annex Located at Atelewo Health Centre Osogbo in Osun State. Convenient sampling technique was used to select 500 participants in both antenatal clinics. Data was collected for six weeks in the two antenatal clinics. Questionnaires in Likerts Scale format was used to examine the perception of the perception of the participants on this study. The statistics used for analysis of data were percentages and chi-square at 5% level of significance. Results: Study revealed that there were significant relationships between perceptions of pregnant mothers on various usefulness of prenatal exercise. The variables used as usefulness or benefits of exercise are faster labour, preparation for labour endurance, reduction in weight gain, relieve of fatigue, swelling and back pain, increased blood circulation and prevention of gestational diabetes, decreased use of labour medication, reduced preterm labour and promotion of sleep Conclusion: It was concluded and recommended that aerobic dance should be done in late gestation to test the effect of maternal exercise on foetal activity. Low impart aerobic such as walking which is being performed by the participants in this study should be recommended by the health care giver to all pregnant mothers to strengthen the pelvic joint.
