Physical activity and psychosocial well-being during pregnancy in Mexican-American women.

Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with improved physical health and emotional well-being. National data indicate that levels of physical activity are lower in Mexican-American women compared to non-Hispanic white women, who have largely been the focus of previous research. We examined physical activity and psychosocial well-being in a group of postpartum Mexican-American women (n=100, 18-35 y) who received prenatal care from a tertiary care clinic in Ventura, CA. Subjects completed a written questionnaire (translated into Spanish) in order to assess physical activity (Kaiser Physical Activity Survey) and level of acculturation. Medical records were obtained for clinical data including gestational anthropometrics and psychosocial well-being as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). This sample of women (n=73) were predominantly of Mixtecan origin with low levels of acculturation (1.14 ± 0.66; scale 1-5). When comparing subdomains of physical activity during pregnancy (scale 0-5), women were least involved in sport/exercise (1.94 ± 0.95) and reported slightly higher levels of activity in the categories of active living habits (2.89 ± 0.61) and household/caregiving (2.16 ± 0.94). Depression scores (scale 0-29) increased from the 2nd trimester (3.1 ± 3.6) to the 3rd trimester (3.4 ± 4.4). We propose to do perform additional analyses to examine the a) relationship between physical activity during pregnancy and physical activity during postpartum, b) relationship between physical activity (pregnancy and postpartum) and depression scores, and c) influence of acculturation on health behaviors (e.g., physical activity and breastfeeding) and health outcomes (e.g., depression)

Gestational weight gain and birth outcome in Mexican-American women

Factors associated with gestational weight gain in Hispanic women are not completely understood. In 2010, our research lab conducted a pilot study on a group of postpartum Mexican-American women (n= 30, 18-35 y; predominantly Mixtecan) who were recruited from a tertiary care clinic in Ventura County, California. Subjects completed a written questionnaire (translated into Spanish) and physical activity levels were evaluated using the Kaiser Physical Activity Survey (KPAS). Medical records were obtained for clinical data, including pregnancy anthropometrics and birth outcomes (gestational age, type of delivery, and birth weight). Since the time of the pilot study we sampled a larger cohort of women (n=90). This sample reported low levels of acculturation (1.14 ± 0.66; scale 1-5) and were predominantly overweight/obese (BMI of 25.64 ± 6.99kg/m2). When comparing subdomains of physical activity during pregnancy (scale 0-5), women were least involved in sport/exercise (1.94 ± 0.95) and reported slightly higher levels of activity in the categories of active living habits (2.89 ± 0.61) and household/caregiving (2.16 ± 0.94). We propose to evaluate gestational weight gain (GWG), weight gain above and below the recommended ranges by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and the relationship of these variables to health behaviors (e.g., physical activity) and birth outcome (e.g., birth weight). We anticipate that our findings will contribute to recommendations for influencing key health behaviors at or before critical time periods in the reproductive years of Mexican-American women