Prenatal Gentle Yoga Improves Sleep Quality in Third-Trimester Pregnancy: Clinical Transition Analysis
Keywords:
Prenatal Yoga, Sleep Quality, Third-Trimester Pregnancy, PSQI, Maternal HealthAbstract
Introduction: Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent during the third trimester of pregnancy and are associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Non-pharmacological interventions such as prenatal yoga have gained attention as safe and accessible strategies to improve sleep quality. However, evidence from primary healthcare settings in Southeast Asia remains limited.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a structured prenatal gentle yoga program on sleep quality among third-trimester pregnant women, assessing both continuous and categorical outcomes.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pre–post study was conducted at Puskesmas Biromaru, Indonesia, from May to July 2025. Thirty-three third-trimester pregnant women with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores > 5 were enrolled. Participants attended four prenatal gentle yoga sessions over two weeks. Sleep quality was measured using the PSQI before and after the intervention. Paired-sample t-test and Cohen’s d were used to assess mean differences, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The mean PSQI score significantly decreased from 9.12 ± 2.31 at baseline to 5.08 ± 1.94 post-intervention (mean difference = 4.04; 95% CI: 3.37–4.71; p < 0.001), with a large effect size (d = 1.72). The proportion of participants classified as having good sleep quality increased substantially following the intervention.
Conclusion: Prenatal gentle yoga significantly improved sleep quality among third-trimester pregnant women and may serve as a feasible non-pharmacological intervention in primary healthcare settings.
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