On Wednesday 10 September at 14:00, Solvej Videbæk Bueno defends her PhD dissertation entitled "Move Mom: Physical activity following pregnancy and childbirth".

Physical activity is a cornerstone in health promotion, as it has beneficial effects on physical, mental and social wellbeing. The 2020 WHO guidelines recommend that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity or an equivalent combination every week. However, a substantial proportion of adults, especially women, are less physically active than recommended.

Approximately 60,000 women give birth every year in Denmark. Most of them follow the national maternity care programme in the healthcare system. Therefore, the pregnancy and postpartum period offers a window of opportunity to reach out to women who are insufficiently physically active.

This PhD project aimed to investigate if mothers are less physically active than other women and to identify strategies for promoting physical activity after childbirth in mothers in Denmark.

Three studies
The project comprises three complementary studies. Studies 1 and 2 investigate the extent and distribution of non-adherence to the WHO physical activity guideline among mothers in Denmark. Study 3 identifies strategies developed through co-creation with healthcare professionals and mothers to inform future interventions aimed at supporting mothers in becoming more physically active after childbirth.

The results can be summarised in two main conclusions. Firstly, Danish mothers are less physically active than other women and thus constitute a potential target group for interventions aimed at promoting physical activity after childbirth. Secondly, it seems possible to integrate such efforts into the existing maternity care programme, thereby offering targeted interventions to different populations of mothers. National guidelines may also support physical activity after childbirth.

The summary is written by the PhD student.

The defence is public and takes place in the Merete Barker Auditorium (1253-211), Lakeside Lecture Theatres, Aarhus University. Please see the press release for more information. 

Contact

PhD student Solvej Videbæk Bueno
Mail: solvej.videbaek@ph.au.dk 
Phone: +45 61685110

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