Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Genel Tip Dergisi, cilt.36, sa.2026, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)
Aim: Although the positive effects of exercise during pregnancy on health are widely recognized, some women do not prefer physical activity during this period. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the barriers to exercise participation in postpartum women who did not exercise during pregnancy. Methods: The qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 12 postpartum women who did not exercise during pregnancy, selected by snowball and criterion sampling. In the study, a semi-structured interview form was prepared and conducted with face-to-face and online data collection methods. Content analysis was used to evaluate the data. Results: The factors preventing women from participating in exercise during pregnancy were grouped into five main themes: (1)Safety Concerns: Participants avoided exercising due to concerns that exercise could lead to preterm birth or miscarriage. Most considered light exercises, such as walking, to be safe. (2)Lack of Interest and Habit: The majority of participants did not engage in exercise before pregnancy and lacked interest in it, leading them to refrain from exercising during pregnancy. (3)Fatigue and Weakness: Women who continued working during pregnancy reported being unable to find the energy to exercise due to fatigue. (4)Time Constraints: Most participants reported that long working hours and a demanding work pace left them with no time for exercise. (5)Lack of Information and Support: Participants indicated that they lacked sufficient information about the benefits of exercise during pregnancy and did not receive adequate support from healthcare professionals. Conclusions: In the study, women’s negative beliefs about exercise, environmental barriers, and social norms were found to be the main reasons for not exercising during pregnancy. These findings suggest that health professionals have an important responsibility to inform and encourage women that exercise is safe and beneficial. Future studies should focus on developing strategies to overcome these barriers.