Preconception care from a public health perspective

Abstract

Abstract Public health researchers and practitioners are committed to developing, implementing and supporting initiatives that improve the health of the population. This presentation will provide an overview of the alignment between public health and preconception health. It will also overview ideas, theories and models that are central to the contemporary understanding of preconception health, such as epigenetics, the diverse preconception health behaviours and exposures that impact on outcomes, and the known barriers affecting the delivery of preconception care services. The presentation will draw on the principles of health promotion, health services research and epidemiology to provide a high-level understanding of the levers underpinning effective preconception health interventions at a policy, health services and grass-roots level.