Titova Jasmine, Davenport Margie H, Ames Kate, Hayman Melanie
CQUniversity Australia, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Br J Sports Med. 2025 Jul 31;59(16):1160-1172. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-109163.
The primary objective of this study was to explore the experiences and beliefs of elite female athletes, athlete support staff and sport organisational staff regarding preconception and pregnancy in Australian elite athletes. Secondary objectives were to identify barriers and enablers encountered by elite athletes during preconception and pregnancy, and to use the study findings to develop recommendations to inform future pregnancy policies within sporting organisations.
58 participants comprising 27 elite athletes, 20 support staff (eg, coaches, physicians, physiotherapists) and 11 sport organisational staff (eg, general managers, athlete well-being officers) from 25 sports participated in either a focus group (n=45) or semi-structured interview (n=13) conducted between 14 August 2023 and 21 November 2023. Focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
The vast majority of athletes felt that organisational support for preconception and pregnancy was inadequate. Their feedback was categorised into four distinct themes: (1) planning, fertility and disclosure; (2) mindset; (3) training during preconception and pregnancy and (4) access to support and information. Within these themes, participants highlighted barriers (eg, lack of knowledge, impaired fertility, pregnancy symptoms) and opportunities for organisations to improve the current level of support provided (eg, education, fertility treatments, training flexibility). Overall, 22 recommendations were developed to guide Australian sporting organisations in future pregnancy policies.
Australian elite female athletes continue to face numerous barriers during preconception and pregnancy. Sporting organisations can use the findings and recommendations within this study to develop pregnancy policies, which better support female athletes.
本研究的主要目的是探讨澳大利亚精英女运动员、运动员支持人员和体育组织工作人员在孕前及孕期的经历和信念。次要目的是确定精英运动员在孕前及孕期遇到的障碍和促进因素，并利用研究结果制定建议，为体育组织未来的怀孕政策提供参考。
58名参与者包括来自25个运动项目的27名精英运动员、20名支持人员（如教练、医生、物理治疗师）和11名体育组织工作人员（如总经理、运动员福利官员），于2023年8月14日至2023年11月21日期间参加了焦点小组（n = 45）或半结构化访谈（n = 13）。焦点小组和访谈进行了录音，逐字转录并采用主题分析法进行分析。
绝大多数运动员认为体育组织对孕前及孕期的支持不足。他们的反馈分为四个不同的主题：（1）计划、生育能力与披露；（2）心态；（3）孕前及孕期训练；（4）获得支持与信息。在这些主题中，参与者强调了障碍（如知识缺乏、生育能力受损、怀孕症状）以及体育组织改善当前支持水平的机会（如教育、生育治疗、训练灵活性）。总体而言，制定了22条建议，以指导澳大利亚体育组织制定未来的怀孕政策。
澳大利亚精英女运动员在孕前及孕期继续面临众多障碍。体育组织可以利用本研究中的结果和建议来制定怀孕政策，从而更好地支持女运动员。
