PRECONCEPTION HEALTH BEHAVIOR AMONG WOMEN WITH PLANNED PREGNANCIES: A STUDY IN FLANDERS, BELGIUM Joline GOOSSENS1, MSc, RM, Dimitri BEECKMAN1, PhD, MSc, RN, Ann VAN HECKE1,2, VERHAEGHE1, PhD, MSc, RN
PhD, MSc, RN,
Ilse DELBAERE3, PhD, MSc, RM, Sofie
A planned pregnancy gives opportunity for preconception care. A healthy preconception lifestyle can increase the likelihood of having a healthy pregnancy and baby.
1.To investigate preconception health behaviors among women with planned pregnancies.
Previous research on healthy preconception lifestyle included pregnant women, regardless of their pregnancy planning status. Little is known about preconception health behaviors among women with a planned pregnancy.
2.To explore associated factors of preconception health behaviors among women with planned pregnancies.
A subset of 430 women with a planned pregnancy ending in birth was selected from a cross-sectional study about pregnancy planning (n = 517, May – September 2015). The item “preconception health behavior” of the validated London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP) was used to assess preconception health behaviors. Preconception health behaviors included folic acid or multivitamin intake, smoking reduction/cessation, alcohol reduction/cessation, caffeine reduction/cessation, healthier diet, healthier weight, obtaining medical or health advice, or another self-reported action before pregnancy.
1. Preconception health behaviors
Conclusion
Findings
Most women (83%) with a planned pregnancy reported one or more preconception health behaviors.
2. Associated factors of preconception health behavior Women having a first birth (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.23–3.87) and history of miscarriage (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.14–5.21) were more likely to prepare for pregnancy. Lower education (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32–0.99) and experiencing difficulties making ends meet (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04–0.97) reduced the likelihood for preconception health behaviors.
Women with children, lower SES, and a less healthy lifestyle were less likely to change their lifestyle before their pregnancy. Strategies to promote preconception health among these women will be more complex as there are more barriers to overcome. It may be interesting to reach these groups through secondary schools.
Joline Goossens
Contact
Methods
Background
CENTRE FOR NURSING AND MIDWIFERY, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, GHENT UNIVERSITY, BELGIUM, 2NURSING SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL GHENT, BELGIUM,3VIVES UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, BELGIUM,
Aim
1UNIVERSITY
[email protected]
+32 9 332 02 10 www.ucvvgent.be @ucvvGent
