To Explore the Relationship of Physical Activity with Prenatal Depression in Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Background: Regular physical activity has positive impact on mental and physical health of people, protects them from numerous diseases, and also enhance the quality of life. The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week to improve health outcomes. As in the third trimester of pregnancy, marked by physical, hormonal, and psychological changes at this stage need further investigations. Objectives: To explore the relationship between physical activity, prenatal depression in the final trimester of pregnancy. Methods: A cross sectional study of 258, last-trimester pregnant mothers were conducted at obstetrics and gynecology OPD 13 liaquat university hospital Hyderabad using non-probability purposive sampling from 11 April to 01 July 2025. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) was used to quantify physical activity, prenatal depression was measured with the geriatric depression scale 15. Spearman correlation analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analysis the relationship of physical activity, and prenatal depression. Results: According to data increased physical activity is linked to decreased prenatal depression, Findings revealed a strong inverse relationship between physical activity and prenatal depression (ρ=-0.358, p<0.01). Conclusion: Conclusion was made that physical activity decreased prenatal depression in third trimester of pregnancy, so it is recommended that health care providers should advise physical activity during pregnancy as a routine guideline for pregnant women.