Motives and Burdens Associated with Health Behaviors of Pregnant Women Expecting their First Child

• Published in: The Kitakanto Medical Journal Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 33 - 44
• Main Authors: Tachiki, Kaori, Fukasawa, Tomoko, Hayashi, Kaori, Kunikiyo, Kyoko, Takatsu, Mieko, Tokiwa, Yoko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Kitakanto Medical Society 01.03.2013
• Subjects: health behavior; health instruction; pregnancy; pregnant woman; primiparae
• ISSN: 1343-2826; 1881-1191
• DOI: 10.2974/kmj.63.33

Purpose : To investigate the motives and burdens associated with health behaviors of first-time pregnant women, and to obtain resources for considering how to provide health instruction that complements health behaviors actually undertaken by pregnant women. Subjects and Methods : Subjects comprised 10 pregnant women in gestational weeks 30-34. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data on motives and burdens associated with health behaviors of first-time pregnant women. Analysis was carried out following Berelson's content analysis. Results : The motives of and burdens associated with health behaviors of first-time pregnant women were categorized into the following seven categories: (1) motives related to interest and care concerning their bodies and daily life during pregnancy; (2) motives related to suggestions received from a medical professional, their husband, or a colleague; (3) motives related to their own body and their baby's health during and after birth; (4) motives related to noticing changes during the course of pregnancy; (5) motives related to the pregnancy experience of close relatives such as their mothers or grandmothers; (6) burdens due to work obligations preventing them from carrying out health behaviors during pregnancy ; and (7) burdens due to being unable to control changes in dietary habits or lifestyle rhythms. Conclusions : From these seven categories, it was apparent that most health behaviors carried out by pregnant women related to everyday physiological drives such as diet, activity and rest, and lifestyle rhythms. Health instruction for pregnant women should therefore take into account pregnant women's everyday lives and the interpersonal relationships that contribute to health behaviors, based on the understanding that these may constitute either motives or burdens, and such instruction must enable pregnant women to become aware of their own health during pregnancy.