Knowledge, attitudes, and practice towards exercise during pregnancy among primary care physicians affiliated with King Fahad General Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 2025: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Exercise during pregnancy provides well-documented benefits for maternal and fetal health, including reduced risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, and postpartum depression. However, healthcare providers lack the knowledge or confidence to promote physical activity during routine antenatal care. This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of primary care physicians in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, regarding antenatal physical activity. A cross-sectional study utilizing a structured questionnaire evaluated physicians' knowledge of exercise benefits, adherence to guidelines, attitudes toward prenatal physical activity, and implementation of clinical counseling practices. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to examine associations between KAP scores and physician characteristics. Of 85 physicians, 95% agreed on exercise benefits, and only 24.7% demonstrated awareness of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines. Positive attitudes (median score: 3/4) contrasted with limited practices: only 17.4% routinely counseled patients, and 18.6% provided educational materials. Key barriers included lack of competency (87.2%), time constraints (81.4%), and cultural beliefs (73.3%). No significant associations were found between KAP scores and gender, age, or years in practice. Although Saudi physicians show growing recognition of prenatal exercise benefits, implementation of structured counseling remains limited. To improve compliance, targeted educational interventions, standardized clinical prompts, and enhanced patient education materials are necessary to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice.