Physical Activity Levels, Self-Efficacy and Exercise Readiness Among Postpartum Women in a Tertiary Hospital in Accra, Ghana

Introduction: Participation in physical activity (PA) is essential to promote maternal physical and mental well-being and is linked to significant contributory factors such as sociodemographic characteristics, self-efficacy and exercise readiness. This study aimed to determine the PA levels and their associated influencing factors among postpartum women in a tertiary health facility in Accra, Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the 37 Military Hospital between October 2022 and January 2023, involving 146 postpartum women. A data capture sheet was used to gather sociodemographic data of participants, while the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Readiness of PA stages of change scale and Self-Efficacy for Physical Activity questionnaires collected information on the PA levels, exercise readiness and self-efficacy, respectively. Data were analysed with SPSS software version 27 using descriptive and inferential statistics with significance at a p-value of ≤ 0.05. Results: The majority of participants had a low PA level (93.25%, n = 136), low self-efficacy (63.7%) and low readiness, with the majority (62.8%) now contemplating exercising in the next 6 months. Marital status (OR [95 CI]: 5 [1.20–24.15], p-value = 0.03) and exercise readiness (OR [95 CI]: 4 [1.06–15.91], p-value = 0.04) emerged as correlates of PA levels. Significant associations were also observed between self-efficacy and readiness (X² = 7.37, p-value = 0.02) and readiness and postpartum month (X² = 6.98, p-value = 0.01). Conclusion: Findings from this study showed that the majority of postpartum women have a low PA level, self-efficacy and exercise readiness. Marital status and exercise readiness were revealed as contributory factors to PA, with self-efficacy having an important link to exercise readiness. It is envisaged that health professionals, policymakers and other key stakeholders will consider these variables in interventions to promote PA levels among postpartum women.