Beyond The Gym: How Culture And Religion Influence Physical Activity In Pregnant Arab Muslim Individuals

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses potential risks to pregnant individuals and their children. Arab individuals are at high-risk for GDM, and scarce information exists on strategies for GDM prevention with cultural and religious sensitivity. PURPOSE: To explore the influence of culture and religion on physical activity behaviors of pregnant Arab Muslim individuals. METHODS: Arab Muslim individuals were recruited through purposive sampling in London, Canada. Community and research team designed questions allowed participants to share their personal experiences and beliefs regarding physical activity during pregnancy through 2-hour structured interviews in either English or Arabic. The interviews were translated and transcribed. Summative content analysis was used to identify patterns in daily physical activities and exercise amongst participants. Thematic analysis was used to code information and reveal themes regarding the influence of culture and religion on physical activity behaviors. RESULTS: Mean age of the 32 participants (11 pregnant; 21 recently pregnant) interviewed was 30.9 ± 6.5 years. Mean time since immigration was 7.4 ± 7.5 years with mean household size of 5.2 ± 2.1 persons. Of physical activities, cooking (93.8%) and grocery shopping (84.4%) were most popular. Over 96% of participants responded “Yes” to participating in walking and prayer and enjoying these activities. Overall, results demonstrated greater participation and enjoyment in daily physical activity compared to structured exercise. Culturally, participants discussed pleasure and purpose as motivators for physical activity and expressed hesitation towards particular exercises during pregnancy. The commitment to prayer and selecting physical activity that align with their religious beliefs were important factors in their behavior choices. CONCLUSION: Cultural and religious beliefs play an important role regarding physical activity behavior for pregnant Arab Muslim individuals. This information will help co-design interventions that are culturally and religiously sensitive to provide meaningful care in chronic disease prevention and management. Supported by: Children’s Health Research Institute (CHRI), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)