Awareness of Puerperal Exercises Among Postnatal Kurdish Mothers in Erbil City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15218/ejnm.2025.18Keywords:
Puerperal Exercise, Postnatal Mothers, Cross-sectional Study, Mother’s AwarenessAbstract
Background and objectives: The postnatal period is a critical phase for maternal and newborn health, with increased risk of illness and complications. Postnatal exercise plays a vital role in reducing these risks and helps mothers recover and return to their pre-pregnancy state. This study aimed to assess the awareness of postnatal Kurdish mothers regarding puerperal exercises.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to November 2023, involving 1,000 postpartum Kurdish mothers in the postpartum ward of the Maternity Teaching Hospital, Erbil City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Data were collected using a structured interview questionnaire comprising 45 items to assess mothers' knowledge of puerperal exercises, including types (5 items), benefits (34 items), and contraindications (6 items). Each correct answer was awarded one point, with a total possible score of 45. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0, applying descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means) and inferential statistics (chi-square test) to examine associations between variables.
Results: Approximately half of the study participants (51.6%) Kurdish mothers, had low knowledge regarding the types, benefits, and practices of puerperal exercise. While many participants expressed willingness to engage in postpartum physical activity, a range of barriers were reported that hindered their actual participation. These included neglect and lack of time (100%), fatigue and discomfort (98.7%), limited information (72.5%), disinterest in exercise (45.4%), as well as family-related responsibilities such as spousal support (80.9%) and childcare duties (83.4%). A very highly statistically significant relationship was found between Kurdish mothers’ overall knowledge and their educational level and age (P-values < 0.001).
Conclusion: The study reveals a lack of puerperal exercise knowledge among Kurdish mothers in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, indicating the necessity for culturally sensitive education, healthcare provider training, and community-wide awareness initiatives to promote postpartum health and exercise.
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