Health promoting lifestyles and related factors in pregnant women.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore health promoting lifestyles and related factors in pregnant women. Methods: This was a descriptive study using convenience sampling. Altogether, 172 pregnant women were recruited from a medical center in southern Taiwan. Personal data was collected, and the instruments used included perceived health status, self-efficacy of health behaviors, perception of family or peers’ health-promoting behaviors, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP Π). Results: The results showed that the standardized total score of health promoting lifestyles was 66.88 (moderate level). The subscales of the HPLP Π in descending order of standardized scores were as follows: “interpersonal relationships,” “health responsibility,” “psychological wellness,” “nutrition,” “stress management” and “physical activity.” There were significant differences in the total scores of the HPLP Π among subjects with different educational level, socioeconomic status, chronic diseases, exercise habits, length of sleep, and perceived health status. Both perception of health-promoting behaviors among family (or peers) and self-efficacy of health behaviors had significantly positive relationships with health-promoting lifestyles. Perception of the family or peers’ health-promoting behaviors, self-efficacy of health behaviors, perceived health status and chronic diseases were the four significant predictors of health-promoting lifestyles, accounting for 62.4% of the variance. Conclusion: The findings of this study could be used as a reference for prenatal care, nursing education, and maternal / neonatal health policies. (Chang Gung Med J 2009;32:650-61)