A study to evaluate the effectiveness of prenatal aerobic exercise program on knowledge, attitude,exercise practices and blood pressure control among pregnant women at risk of pre-eclampsia attending outpatient department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in a tertiary care hospital.

Pregnancy is characterized by significant physiological adaptations, and maladaptive changes can increase the risk of gestational hypertensive conditions like pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GHTN), which are leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality globally. While exercise during pregnancy is generally recommended and has shown benefits for weight management and reduced risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), there’s a need for more research on its specific effects on blood pressure in at-risk populations and the optimal exercise parameters. The study aims to address the underutilization of preventive measures and effective management strategies for pre-eclampsia in India, where it contributes to approximately 15-20% of maternal deaths. The proposed non-pharmacological intervention, prenatal aerobic exercise, titled “A study to evaluate the effectiveness of prenatal aerobic exercise program on knowledge, attitude, exercise practices and blood pressure control among pregnant women at risk of pre-eclampsia attending outpatient department of Obstetrics & Gynecology in a tertiary care hospital” can be effective in controlling blood pressure. This study will employ a quantitative research approach with an quasi-experimental design involving an experimental and a control group. The target population is pregnant women at risk of pre-eclampsia, with a sample size of 58 antenatal women (29 in each group) to be recruited from the outpatient department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at AIIMS Mangalagiri. Participants will be selected based on inclusion criteria such as gestational age between 20 to 28 weeks and Gestosis score 3 or more than 3. The intervention group will receive a systematically designed prenatal aerobic exercise program, including educational sessions for 35 minutes and demonstration of selected aerobic exercises like side bends, hip circles, hamstring curls, tap and punch, and shoulder press jerk for 25 minutes followed by providing information leaflet for further study. The control group will receive routine care and same information containing leaflet given to the interventional group. Data on knowledge, attitude, and blood pressure will be collected at baseline (Day 1) and the same data with data on practice of those selected aerobic exercise on Day 30. The data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to find out if there are any significant differences in knowledge, attitude, practice, and blood pressure between the experimental and control groups, and an association of knowledge, attitude, and practice with selected sociodemographic variables. This research is expected to provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating prenatal aerobic exercise into routine care for high-risk pregnant women, potentially improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.