Awareness and Beliefs on Preconception Health Care Among Women Attending Maternal &amp; Child Health Services at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya

Mable Wanyonyi ,Roselyne Asiko Abwalaba

doi:10.7176/jhmn/60-11

Abstract

Preconception health care is the care given to women for optimal health before pregnancy in order to reduce risk factors and improve pregnancy outcomes. Since the introduction of preconception health care through safe motherhood initiative, little is known about its existence in health care settings in Kenya yet adverse birth outcomes that may be prevented through preconception health are still prevalent. This study aimed at assessing the level of awareness and beliefs on the concept of preconception health care among women attending Maternal Child Health & family planning services at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Structured questionnaires and a Likert scale were used to collect the data from a sample of 384 women attending Maternal Child Health & family planning services at MTRH. The data was then analyzed quantitatively using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) program to obtain descriptive statistics and results tabulated using charts. The study established that majority of women (83%) are not aware of preconception health care services and therefore have not been seeking for the services. Most women agreed with the positive beliefs that a woman should be in good health before becoming pregnant (96.1%) The study recommends the need to create awareness so that women of reproductive age are able to know and seek for preconception health care services and Preconception health care clinics to be established within the maternal child health and family planning services to address risks that may impact negatively on pregnancy outcome. Keywords : Awareness, Beliefs, Maternal Child Health Services, Preconception Health care. DOI : 10.7176/JHMN/60-11 Publication date :March 31 st 2019

Highlights

Introduction and background informationPreconception care is a set of interventions that identify and modify biomedical, behavioral and social risks to a woman’s health and future pregnancies (Elsinga et al, 2008)
In a study to determine knowledge and attitudes regarding preconception care in a low income Mexican American population, Coonrod, Bruce, Malcom, Drachman, Frey (2008) found that 89% of women agreed that improving preconception health benefits pregnancy outcomes. 79% percent expressed some interest in preconception health care with the obstetrics gynecology office at the preferred location
65 representing 17% knew what preconception health care was. These findings indicate that most women of reproductive age are not aware of preconception health care services

Summary

Introduction

Preconception care is a set of interventions that identify and modify biomedical, behavioral and social risks to a woman’s health and future pregnancies (Elsinga et al, 2008). Preconception care includes both prevention and management strategies emphasizing health issues that require action before conception for maximal maternal and newborn health outcomes. The incorporation of various preconception strategies and ideologies within international maternal and child health programs and policies, as far as 30 years back, indicate long term recognition of the importance of such interventions as a means of optimizing pregnancy outcomes (Elsinga et al, 2008). The conclusion by Coonrod et al (2008) was that there was interest in preconception education and agreement that preconception health has a positive effect on pregnancy

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