Abstract
Background: Overweight in pregnant women is strongly associated with several perinatal risks. Health guidance focusing on weight control is of interest for reducing perinatal risks. In the present study, we hypothesized that awareness of perinatal risks and health-promoting behaviors in daily life are different between overweight and normal weight pregnant women. Method: One hundred and ten pregnant women from 12 to 40 weeks who did not show severe complications (mean age, 30.7±4.6 years) participated and completed an original questionnaire "Pregnancy Behavior Scale (PBS)" which consists of 10 items for risk recognition and 20 items for health promotion on pregnancy. Results of PBS were confirmed by a personal interview. Subcales for PBS in overweight subjects (body mass index ≧24 at baseline, n=17) or in excess weight gain subjects (increase in over 0.27kg/week, n=33) were compared with those in normal weight subjects (n=93) or in normal (0.17 to 0.27kg/week, n=47) and low (less than 0.17kg/week, n=30) weight gain subjects. Results: Factor analyses of PBS revealed that 2 subscales from risk recognition and 3 subscales from health promotion were classified. Each subscales demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha, from 0.54 to 0.94). A score of optimism on risk recognition in overweight subjects showed significantly higher than that in normal weight subjects (p<0.001). On the other hand, a score of adherence to health guidance on health promotion in excess weight gain subjects was significantly lower compared with that in low weight gain subjects (P<0.05). Conclusion: PBS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing thought and behaviors in pregnant women. Overweight pregnant women are likely to neglect perinatal risks and health promotion. These results suggest that pregnant women should require health guidance focusing on weight control to reduce perinatal risks.
