Efficacy of a Mobile Phone-Based Physical Activity Intervention in Pregnancy on Maternal and Fetal Health Outcomes (Full and Fit Mum Project).

BACKGROUND: Inadequate physical activity in pregnant women exacerbates poor maternal and fetal health outcomes. This study primarily aimed to determine the effect of Clinic-based 6-Minute Walk-Talk (Cb6MWT) and Mobile Phone-based 6-Minute Walk-Talk (MPb6MWT) interventions on maternal blood glucose levels. Secondary analyses examined the effects of these interventions on other maternal physiological parameters and selected fetal outcomes. METHODS: 95 pregnant women who were in their second trimester or later (Cb6MWT [n = 36], MPb6MWT [n = 31], or Control [n = 28] Group) participated in this 12-week quasi-experimental design. The Cb6MWT group received usual antenatal care and a 6-minute Walk-Talk physical activity. MPb6MWT is a digital replica of the Cb6MWT, while the control group received the usual antenatal care only. Maternal health outcomes were assessed at the sixth and 12th weeks, while fetal health outcomes were obtained from case notes after delivery. RESULTS: There were significant within-group differences in Cb6MWT and MPb6MWT for calories (0.001 and 0.050), SpO2 (0.001 and 0.013), and blood glucose level (0.001 and 0.001) at week 6; and for physical activity (0.001 and 0.001) and blood glucose level (0.001 and 0.001) scores at week 12, respectively. Across-group comparison (Cb6MWT vs MPb6MWT vs Control) revealed greater improvements in fetal outcomes, specifically birth weight (P = .001), gestational age (P = .001), and number of spontaneous vaginal deliveries (P = .005). CONCLUSION: MPb6MWT was associated with better maternal health outcomes than Cb6MWT but lesser fetal health outcomes. MPb6MWT and Cb6MWT may help improve maternal and fetal health outcomes among pregnant women.