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Abstract
Keywords
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of healthy lifestyle behaviors adopted during pregnancy on neonatal birth weight. Additionally, the relationship between these behaviors and various sociodemographic variables was evaluated.
Material and Methods: This observational and cross-sectional study was conducted with pregnant women in their third trimester who applied to the Pregnancy Follow-up Outpatient Clinic in Bağcılar district of Istanbul. The study sample consisted of 115 pregnant women for whom birth weight data were obtained postpartum. Data were collected using the “Sociodemographic Information Form” and the “Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Pregnancy Scale (HLBPS),” and birth weight information was gathered via postpartum telephone interviews with the mothers. Infants were classified as SGA, AGA, or LGA according to Fenton growth charts.
Results: A moderately positive and statistically significant correlation was found between total HLBPS scores and birth weight (r=0.445; p=0.001). Subscale analysis revealed significant differences between birth weight and the scores for nutrition (p=0.001), physical activity (p=0.002), and pregnancy responsibility (p=0.005). Furthermore, it was determined that sociodemographic variables such as education level, income, and employment status had an impact on HLBPS scores.
Conclusion: Adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy may influence important perinatal outcomes such as birth weight. These findings suggest the importance of supporting pregnant women throughout the pregnancy process and promoting health-related behaviors. These factors should be taken into account in the planning of health policies.
Keywords
Family Medicine, Infant Birth Weight, Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors, Pregnancy
