Physical Activity Mobile Phone-Based Application in Pregnancy on Maternal and Child Health Outcomes [Full and Fit Mum Project]: A Randomised Controlled Trial (Preprint)

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Pregnant women are at risk of gestational diabetes, eclampsia, and excessive weight gain, which can adversely affect both maternal and child health. These risks are often exacerbated by insufficient physical activity [PA]. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Clinic-based Six-Minute Walk-Talk [Cb6MWT] and Mobile Phone-based Six-Minute Walk-Talk [MPb6MWT] interventions on maternal [blood sugar level, blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, caloric expenditure, and oxygen saturation [SPO2] and child [gestational birth weight, age, and mode of delivery] health outcomes among pregnant women. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> 95 consenting pregnant women [Cb6MWT [n=36], MPb6MWT [n=31] or Control [n=28] Group] in their second trimester participated in this randomised control trial for 12 weeks. The Cb6MWT group received a six-minute Walk-Talk PA plus the usual antenatal care [ANC]. MPb6MWT is a digital replica of the Cb6MWT, while the control group received the usual ANC only. Maternal health outcomes were assessed at the 6th and 12th weeks, while child health outcomes were obtained from case notes after delivery. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> There were significant within-group differences in Cb6MWT and MPb6MWT for calories [0.001 and 0.050], SPO2 [0.001 and 0.013] and blood sugar level [0.001 and 0.001] at week six; and for PA [0.001 and 0.001] and blood sugar level [0.001 and 0.001] scores at week 12, respectively. Across-group comparison [Cb6MWT vs MPb6MWT vs Control] led to higher improvements in child outcomes in terms of birth weight [0.001], gestational age [0.001], and number of spontaneous vaginal delivery [0.005]. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> MPb6MWT led to better maternal health outcomes vis increased step count, performance of light and moderate intensity PA, calorie expenditure and decreased diastolic blood pressure and blood glucose level than Cb6MWT but lesser outcomes on child health among the pregnant women. MPb6MWT and Cb6MWT may help improve maternal and child outcomes among pregnant women. </sec> <sec> <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> PACTR202010667228786; Registration Date: 27th October, 2020. </sec>