Preconception Health in the Workplace: An Opportunity to Support Equitable Access to Education

Abstract

Preconception health is a key determinant of pregnancy and offspring outcomes, but challenges reaching people during preconception are frequently cited by health professionals. This article highlights the workplace as an important setting for promoting equitable access to preconception health-related information and education to support optimal well-being before pregnancy. Workplaces can support equitable access to education and knowledge for preconception health: (1) due to the high engagement of reproductive-age women in the workforce and (2) by reaching vulnerable or high-risk population groups who may otherwise face barriers to accessing preconception health information. Literature that explicitly investigates workplace delivery of preconception health promotion programs is scarce. However, workplace health promotion more broadly is associated with improved corporate competitiveness, productivity, and strengthened employee–employer relationships. Workplace health promotion activities may also address social determinants of health and improve employee well-being outcomes. The opportunity for workplaces to benefit from an increase in the bottom line makes workplace health promotion programs more attractive, but organizational support and stakeholder engagement are needed to facilitate the design and delivery of successful workplace preconception health education programs. Such programs have the potential to facilitate health gains for women and their families.

Efektivitas Pendidikan Kesehatan Prakonsepsi Menggunakan Buku Saku Terhadap Pengetahuan Pasangan Usia Subur tentang Kehamilan Berisiko

“…Salah satu upaya dalam meningkatkan pengetahuan tentang kehamilan resiko tinggi bagi PUS yaitu dengan pemberian pendidikan kesehatan/ hal ini didasarkan pada fenomena rendahnya kesadaran tentang kesehatan kehamilan maupun resiko kehamilan pada PUS. Karena itu dibutuhkannya pendidikan, edukasi, informasi atau promosi kesehatan yang benar dan jelas (Alfonso et al, 2021;Fowler et al, 2023;Hill et al, 2022).…”

Using Intervention Mapping to Develop a Workplace Digital Health Intervention for Preconception, Pregnant, and Postpartum Women: The Health in Planning, Pregnancy and Postpartum (HiPPP) Portal

“…Community service workplaces have been recognised as an opportune setting within which to promote the healthy lifestyles and wellbeing of PPP women [ 17 ]. There is a high proportion of PPP women in the community services workforce; females comprise approximately 80% of this workforce [ 18 ] and at least 70% of these women are of reproductive age [ 19 ].…”

“…Therefore, intervening in workplaces may provide a feasible and valuable opportunity to reach PPP women. This is particularly relevant for women who are vulnerable, for those who face barriers to accessing or engaging in traditional healthcare settings, such as preconception women (who often do not access health promotion information before awareness of pregnancy) [ 17 ], or postpartum women returning to work [ 20 ].…”