Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract BACKGROUND: Exercising during pregnancy has various benefits for the mother and the fetus, but
there are controversial results about its effect on labor and delivery. Therefore, the present study
was conducted to evaluate the effect of walking during late pregnancy on the outcomes of labor
and delivery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present randomized clinical trial was conducted on 102 pregnant
women who were referred to the comprehensive health service centers of Rafsanjan and were
selected using convenient sampling method and randomly were allocated into two groups from
August 2018 to February 2019. The intervention group performed walking from the 34th week of
pregnancy until the time of delivery 4 times per  week, each time for 40 min. The control group just
received the routine prenatal care. Information about the outcomes of delivery were gathered from
the participants’ medical files in the hospital and were analyzed using SPSS software version 22
and Chi‑square and independent t‑tests.
RESULTS: The results indicated that the Bishop score of the intervention group was significantly
higher than the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, regarding the duration of the third phase
of delivery, spontaneous labor, induced labor, cesarean section , and instrumental delivery,
a statistically significant difference was observed between the intervention and the control
groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between both the groups
regarding the duration of the first and the second stages of delivery and Apgar score at 1st and
5th min (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:  Walking during late pregnancy could improve Bishop score, increase spontaneous
onset of labor, and decrease induction, cesarean, and instrumental delivery without having any
adverse effect on the neonate’s Apgar score.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hypertension in pregnancy is one of the most important
unsolved problems in midwifery, and since it is the main cause of maternal death, preventive
intervention measures are essential to control this serious complication. This study aimed to determine
the effect of walking on gestational hypertension disorders in women prone to hypertension.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 72 pregnant women
susceptible to gestational hypertension who were randomly (through a random number table)
assigned into two groups of 36. The pregnant women in the experimental group had walking program
for 20–30 min from weeks 14–34, four times a week. Data were analyzed, via independent t‑test,
Fisher’s exact test, and Chi‑square test.
RESULTS: The results indicated that in the experimental group, 2 cases with transient gestational
hypertension and 1 case of preeclampsia existed, and in the control group, 9 pregnant women
were with gestational hypertension and 4 pregnant women were with preeclampsia. Therefore, the
incidence of these two complications in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control
group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the experimental
group were significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Based on the results, the moderate walking, as an easy physical activity, is
recommended for pregnant women susceptible to pregnancy hypertension.