Patterns and Determinants of Preconception Health Behaviors in IranianWomen
نویسندگان
1 Research Centre for Patient Safety, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran
2 Student Research Committee, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran
3 Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran
4 Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran
5 Health Sciences Research Center, Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran
doi
چکیده
Background: Preconception health behaviors (PCHBs) include couples’ planning for pregnancyandchanging their lifestyle tohavea greater chance of fertility and desirable pregnancy outcomes. Although starting preconception care has been considered in Iranfor nearly a decade, it has not received enough attention. For this reason, there is a dearth of studies in this area.Objectives: Theaimof this studywasto investigate the patternsanddeterminants of PCHBsinwomenreferred to healthcare centersin Mashhad, Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 480 married women who had decided to become pregnant were selected from five differenthealth centers in Mashhad through a multistage cluster sampling method. The data collection tool was a self-structured, valid, reliablequestionnaire consisting of the three following parts: women’s demographic data, questions about knowledge and attitudesabout PCHBs, and a checklist of PCHBs that were being performed. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS v16.5 with descriptiveand inferential statistics, including the Pearson correlation, Chi square, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. A P value < 0.05 was consideredstatistically significant.Results: It was found that 77.7% of women had attended preconception care (PCC) programs. About 31.7% and 68.3% of womencarried out preconception and interconception care, respectively. About 39.8% of womenused a folic acid supplement in the correctway. Only 6.9% of women engaged in regular physical activities. Approximately 33.1% of women had dental care; 9.8% receivedgenetic counseling; and 33.3% carried out blood testing. There were significant relationships between attending PCC programs andusing a folic acid supplement, engaging in physical activities, having blood tests, and receiving dental care and genetic counseling(P < 0.0001). There were positive correlations between knowledge score and acid folic consumption (r = -0.181, P = 0.001), physicalactivity (r = 0.184, P = 0.001), and fruit consumption (r = 0.126, P = 0.001), respectively.Conclusions: Although the majority of women had PCC records and received advice from healthcare professionals to carry outPCHBs, most of them did not adhere to the PCHB guideline recommendations. It is therefore suggested that strategies should beadopted to establish PCC services in the healthcare system and encourage clients to adhere to the PCHB guideline recommended bythe ministry of health.
