Factors Associated With Physical Activity Before and During Pregnancy: Analysis of 2016-2019 PRAMS Data

OBJECTIVE: Pregnant women are encouraged to engage in physical activity before and during pregnancy. However, few women in the United States engage in sufficient physical activity during pregnancy. We examined physical activity and factors associated with it before and during pregnancy. METHODS: We analyzed the most recent data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS; 2016-2019) to describe physical activity among women in Alabama and Rhode Island. We used logistic regression models to assess factors associated with physical activity before and during pregnancy. RESULTS: Only 14.6% (n = 1178) of the sample (n = 7734; 3621 in Alabama, 4113 in Rhode Island) met physical activity guidelines before pregnancy and 8.8% (n = 666) during pregnancy. Identifying as White (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.46) or non-Hispanic ethnicity (AOR = 1.46), being underweight or normal weight (AOR = 1.98), and residing in Rhode Island (AOR = 1.30) were significantly associated with meeting physical activity guidelines before pregnancy. Being underweight or normal weight (AOR = 1.70) remained a significant variable associated with meeting physical activity guidelines during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Public health professionals and health care providers may consider factors such as race, ethnicity, and body mass index when working to increase physical activity among women before and during pregnancy.