Author(s): ECKERT, K., CARL, J., Institution: IST UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES, Country: GERMANY, Abstract-ID: 675

INTRODUCTION:
Due to the health-promoting effects of physical activity, postpartum women are recommended to complete a weekly minimum of physical activity. However, only a small proportion of women achieve the level recommended by the WHO [1]. Postnatal phenomena such as physical limitations, fatigue, or depressive moods are discussed as significant barriers [2]. The aim of the present study was to investigate postpartum physical activity-related health competence (PAHCO) by 1) analysing corresponding differences between women after normal birth and women after caesarean section and 2) examining the role of time after birth for PAHCO.
METHODS:
N=150 complete data sets were generated via an online survey (n=85 women giving birth normally, n=65 women after caesarean section). The assessment included socio-demographic data, specific questions about the birth (type, time), and the 42-item PAHCO questionnaire with its three subcompetence areas (movement competence, control competence, self-regulation competence) [3]. We calculated analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) to detect differences in PAHCO between postpartum groups.
RESULTS:
Our study showed that women undergoing caesarean section rate significantly lower levels of PAHCO than women following normal birth. Significant differences were found in all three subcompetence areas (F≥8.79, p≤.004, η2≥.058). The greatest differences emerged in the cognitive and affective attitude components as part of self-regulation competence. The circumstance of a previous birth experience had no influence on PAHCO. However, the length of time since giving birth was significantly associated with the ability to master strength and endurance demands and the cognitive attitudes towards physical activity, favouring women who had given birth >12 months ago.
CONCLUSION:
The results suggest that women who have had a caesarean section obviously have less competence in (a) ensuring the regularity of movement (self-regulation competence), (b) orienting activities towards health (control competence) and (c) performing at a high motor and fitness level than women with a normal birth. This indicates that aftercare and postnatal care services as well as advice on physical activity should be more specifically tailored to the needs of postpartum women by considering time since birth and how the child was born.
[1] Evenson, K. R. et al. (2012). Self-Reported and objectively measured physical activity among a cohort of postpartum women: the PIN Postpartum Study. Journal of physical activity & health, 9(1), 5–20.
[2] Borodulin, K. et al. (2009). Physical activity patterns during pregnancy through postpartum. BMC womens health, 9, 32.
[3] Carl, J., Sudeck, G., & Pfeifer, K. (2020). Competencies for a healthy physically active lifestyle: second-order analysis and multidimensional scaling. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 558850.