Preconception Healthcare: What Women Know and Believe

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine if women realize the importance of optimizing their health prior to a pregnancy, whether the pregnancy is planned or not; and to evaluate their knowledge level and beliefs about preconception healthcare. Additionally, we sought to understand how and when women wanted to receive information on preconception health. Methods: A survey study was performed using consecutive patients presenting to primary care practices for an annual wellwoman exam. Patients were recruited based on appointment type and willingness to complete the survey at the time of their appointment, but prior to being seen by the physician. Results: A total of 499 women completed the survey. Nearly all women (98.6%) realized the importance of optimizing their health prior to a pregnancy, and realized the best time to receive information about preconception health is before conception. The vast majority of patients surveyed (95.3%) preferred to receive information about preconception health from their primary care physician. Only 39% of women could recall their physician ever discussing this topic. The population studied revealed some significant knowledge deficiencies about factors that may threaten the health of mother or fetus. Conclusions: A majority of women do understand the importance of optimizing their health prior to conception, and look to their Primary care physician as their preferred source for such information. Study participants demonstrated deficiencies in their knowledge of risk factors that impact

Prioritizing Pregnant Women’s Preferences to Receive Health Information Before and During Pregnancy in Semnan in 2014 - 2015

“…200 pregnant women were estimated as samples based on similar studies (7,10,13,18) and using the sample size estimation of Cochran (confidence level of 95%).…”

“…Frey in a study done on 499 women, referred to outpatient services clinic, found that women information-level of preconception risk factors affecting on the outcome of pregnancy was good, and most of them preferred to receive information from their doctor and/or gynecologist (10).…”

Patterns and Determinants of Preconception Health Behaviors in Iranian Women

“…Riazi also found that although approximately 80% of pregnancies are planned, less than 10% of women use folic acid, even when they have a history giving birth to children with neural tube defects (18). In Frey and Files's study, deficiencies in women's knowledge about preconception risk factors that influence maternal and fetal health occur due to doctors' neglect of routine preconception health care (19). In the study by Wu conducted in England, 25% of women correctly used acid folic supplement before pregnancy (20).…”

Women’s Perceived Control of Their Birth Outcomes in the Central Pennsylvania Women’s Health Study

“…Underlying these recommendations is an assumption that women will be aware and inclined to act before pregnancy-or can be educated to recognize and take action before pregnancy-to optimize health outcomes for themselves and their newborns. Yet little research has been conducted on preconception awareness or attitudes regarding birth outcomes (Frey & Files, 2006).Currently, it is not known whether women contemplating pregnancy believe that they can increase the likelihood of having a healthy baby through any actions of their own. This is an important topic because it is relevant to developing effective health education and social marketing campaigns to increase preparation for childbearing, and women would not be expected to modify their health behaviors if they did not believe that their actions could influence their birth outcomes.…”