The Effect of Motivational Interviewing on Increasing Physical Activity of Obese Postpartum Mothers : Quasi-experimental one group pre-post test

Dhea Ananda S; Efri Leny Rauf; Yuliandary Yunus; Siskawati Umar

doi:10.55606/ijhs.v5i2.5636

Authors

Dhea Ananda S Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo
Efri Leny Rauf Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo
Yuliandary Yunus Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo
Siskawati Umar Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55606/ijhs.v5i2.5636

Keywords:

Counseling, Health education, Motivational interviewing, Obesity, Postpartum

Abstract

Postpartum obesity increases the risk of postnatal complications and is often triggered by low physical activity. Fatigue, hormonal changes, and the responsibilities of caring for a baby all contribute to this condition. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a client-centered counseling technique that aims to awaken intrinsic motivation for adopting healthy behaviors, including increased physical activity during the postpartum period. This study analyzed the effect of MI intervention on the physical activity of obese postpartum mothers. A total of 30 respondents were selected through purposive and convenience sampling based on inclusion criteria and accessibility. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Before the intervention, 63.3% of respondents were in the low physical activity category, indicating a sedentary lifestyle. After a series of MI sessions, there was a significant increase in physical activity levels to the moderate category. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a p-value of 0.000 (< 0.05), indicating a statistically significant improvement in postpartum mothers’ physical activity following the intervention. This finding highlights the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing in encouraging behavior change during the critical postpartum period. MI not only promotes increased activity but also empowers mothers to make healthier choices through reflective listening, goal setting, and self-efficacy building. Given the positive outcomes, this strategy is highly recommended for integration into midwifery and maternal health education programs. It can play a pivotal role in preventing long-term complications associated with obesity, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression. Further studies are encouraged to evaluate the long-term adherence to physical activity and to examine the potential psychological benefits of MI in the postpartum population.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Agustina, W., Lestari, R. M., and Prasida, D. W., “The relationship between physical activity and obesity among people of productive age in the Marina Permai Health Center working area, Palangka Raya,” Surya Medika Journal, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1–8, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.33084/jsm.v9i1.5125

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Obesity in Pregnancy. Washington DC: ACOG, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.acog.org

Aryani, M., Norma, and Huzaima, “The relationship between obesity and gestational hypertension,” Health Journal, vol. 1, no. 6, pp. 827–845, 2023.

Centis, E. et al., “Motivational interviewing adapted to group settings for relapse treatment in behavioral therapy for obesity: A clinical audit,” Nutrients, vol. 12, no. 12, pp. 1–12, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123881

Deci, E. L., and Ryan, R. M., “Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being,” American Psychologist, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 68–78, 2000.

Ella, Y., Noor, I., Sugiarto, E., and Fatimah, A. S., “JGK-Vol.14, No.1 January 2022,” Journal of Nutrition and Health, vol. 14, no. 1, 2022.

Hardcastle, S. J. et al., “Effectiveness of a motivational interviewing intervention on weight loss, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease risk factors,” International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, vol. 10, pp. 1–16, 2013. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-10-40

Hurriyyah, F., and Bhakti, C. P., “Strategies for individual counseling services using motivational interviewing techniques to foster student learning motivation,” Journal of Educational Counseling, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 40–45, 2021.

Kao, T. S. A. et al., “Motivational interviewing in pediatric obesity: A meta-analysis of effects on behavioral outcomes,” Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 57, no. 8, pp. 605–619, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaad006

Kharani, N., Saputri, N. A., Syavani, D., and Effendi, S. U., “The relationship between age, occupation, and central obesity in women aged 25–54 years,” Journal of Health Sciences, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 51–58, 2024.

Kohir, D. S., Almuurhan, and Sulastri, “Screening of obesity risk factors among people of productive age,” Journal of Health Discourse, vol. 9, no. 2, p. 97, 2024.

Lim, S. et al., “Addressing obesity in preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum: A literature review,” Current Obesity Reports, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 405–414, 2022.

Limbong, U. B., Amiruddin, R., Thaha, R. M., and Hasanuddin University, “The effect of motivational interviewing and exercise on quality of life in type 2 diabetes patients,” Makassar Journal of Public Health, pp. 352–358, 2019.

Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, World Obesity Day 2023 Handbook. Jakarta: Ministry of Health RI, 2023.

Mirkarimi, K. et al., “Effect of motivational interviewing on weight efficacy lifestyle among overweight and obese women,” Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 187–193, 2017.

Mulyani, I. et al., “The effect of motivational interviewing and Instagram-based nutrition education classes on knowledge improvement in healthy weight loss and diet quality,” Indonesian Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 17, no. 2, p. 53, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.22146/ijcn.53042

Nabila, S. A. et al., “Eating behavior and physical activity patterns related to obesity issues: A systematic review,” Indonesian Health Promotion Publication Media, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 498–505, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.56338/mppki.v7i3.4533

Rahman, S. M., and Ratnaningsih, “The effectiveness of ketogenic therapy on reducing obesity in postpartum women,” Pertiwi Health Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 129–134, 2020.

Rantekata, N. A., and Nurjannah, N., “A critique of the motivational interviewing counseling method,” Islamika: Journal of Islamic Studies, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 96–113, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.32939/islamika.v22i01.1095

Rokhnawati, D., “The relationship between age, parity, and postpartum mothers’ knowledge on breast care,” Journal of Promotive Preventive Health, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 116–123, 2022.

Sesilawati, R., La Isa, W. M., and Hasanudin, S. N., “Overview of obesity occurrence after pregnancy,” Journal of Nursing Student & Research, vol. 4, 2024.

Wilcox, S. et al., “Effects of a behavioral intervention on physical activity, diet, and health-related quality of life in pregnant women with elevated weight,” International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, vol. 19, no. 1, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-022-01387-w