Preconception needs and experience of people with mobility disability: Qualitative study of people with lived experience and clinical experts.

The National Health Service Corps Expansion and Detection of Preconception Health Conditions in Underserved Areas.

Early marriage remains a reproductive health issue because it increases the risk of physical, psychological, and social problems for adolescents. This study aims to describe the perceptions of prospective brides regarding pregnancy preparation in early marriage by emphasizing in-depth findings from six informants. The study used a phenomenological qualitative design with semi-structured interviews and purposive sampling, conducted from August to November 2025. Data analysis used content analysis techniques. The results showed that the readiness of prospective brides to face pregnancy in early marriage still faces various limitations. Physical readiness was characterized by biological immaturity, suboptimal nutritional status, a history of anemia, and a low understanding of preconception health. Emotional readiness was also a major challenge, as seen in anxiety about the role of parents, fear of the delivery process, and ambivalence. In contrast, financial readiness was perceived to be relatively good, especially in relation to meeting the basic needs of pregnancy and childbirth, although this was highly dependent on the economic conditions of the prospective husband. Spiritual readiness and support from the husband and immediate family play an important role in strengthening the mental and psychological readiness of expectant mothers. These findings emphasize the need for a holistic approach through strengthening preconception health education and family support in preparing for pregnancy in early marriage.

Preconception health behaviors significantly influence pregnancy outcomes, yet patterns of these behaviors and their determinants have received limited attention, particularly among men. Understanding behavioral profiles is essential for developing targeted interventions to improve paternal reproductive health. We conducted a cross-sectional study examining over 20 guideline-recommended preconception health behaviors among 952 Chinese men. Latent profile analysis was utilized to identify different behavioral profiles. Multinomial logistic regressions assessed associations of profile membership with sociodemographic and medical history characteristics. Four distinct preconception health behavioral profiles were identified: a “Moderate” profile (44.0%) with scores near or slightly above the overall mean on most behaviors; a “Vulnerable” profile (4.5%) showing markedly negative scores across multiple behaviors; and two intermediate profiles “Unmotivated” (33.2%) and “At-Risk” (18.3%) with scores closer to average on some behaviors but notably lower on others (e.g., planning, avoidance of environmental hazards and domestic violence, treating existing diseases). Several behaviors received low scores across all profiles, including preconception check-ups, genetic screening, receiving professional preconception education, physical activity, and immunization. Lower education and unplanned pregnancy were consistently associated with at-risk behavioral profiles. Interventions must combine universal campaigns to elevate systematically neglected behaviors with targeted strategies addressing profile-specific needs. Pregnancy planning emerges as a keystone intervention opportunity. National programs require rebranding to emphasize paternal participation, while all strategies must address underlying social determinants rather than focusing solely on individual behavior change.

Background: Preconception services play an important role in preventing pregnancy risks and improving the health of the mother and baby. However, its utilization in rural communities is still low, including the involvement of male couples. Posyandu cadres have the potential to become drivers of preconception screening if they are equipped with gender-responsive training. Quantitative evidence of improving cadre skills through training at the village level is still limited. The purpose of this community service is to improve the ability of posyandu cadres in preconception screening services. Methods: This community service was carried out in Cikadu Village, Kuningan Regency, in August 2025 with a target of 35 Posyandu cadres. Training activities were carried out for one day, including pre-test, delivery of materials (basic concepts of preconception health, preconception risk factors, gender concepts in preconception services, effective communication, and gender-based counseling and preconception screening services), and simulation of preconception screening practices using preconception and post-test screening checklists. The media used during the training are training modules, pocket books, and leaflets. Results: The average (±SD) preconception screening skill score increased from 105.29±23.93 (pretest) to 120.69±30.60 (posttest), indicating an improvement in practical competence after training. Conclusion: Posyandu cadre training is effective in improving gender-based preconception screening skills. It is hoped that preconception services can be integrated into the regular posyandu program with the support of the health center and the husband's involvement strategy

Background:Addressing preconception health through targeted interventions, as advocated by the WHO, can greatly improve maternal and child outcomes.Objectives:The study explores community perceptions, preparedness, and expectations regarding preconception care (PCC). It evaluates the acceptance of nurses delivering PCC services, the efficiency of a community-based PCC package, and community readiness for village-level PCC services, aiming to co-develop a tailored PCC package.Design and methods:This formative research, conducted from March to September 2024, used a qualitative approach comprising focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and free listing with ranking exercises across 96 villages under four primary health centers (PHCs) in rural Maharashtra, India with population of around 120,000, was carried out across four PHCs: PHC An (28 villages), PHC Kh (G) (25 villages), PHC Ta (Wa) (25 villages), and PHC Wa (26 villages). The study involved diverse participants, including eligible couples, village representatives, and community health workers. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis, employing both deductive and inductive methods to identify themes related to perceptions, contributions, and expectations for PCC.Results:The study revealed limited community awareness of PCC, especially regarding genetic screening and early detection. Despite this, participants recognized PCC’s benefits for maternal health and safer deliveries, strongly supporting locally accessible clinics. Community priorities such as health screening, family well-being, and lifestyle changes reflected a holistic view of PCC. Communities proposed low-cost services, local clinic management, and promotion via self-help groups and village platforms. Expectations included diagnostics, infertility treatment, nutrition support, and counseling, with calls for both doctors and nurses to deliver services effectively.Conclusion:The findings highlight the community’s readiness to adopt PCC services, provided they are affordable, accessible, and tailored to local needs. The study underscores the importance of culturally sensitive approaches and leveraging community networks to promote PCC. Integrating locally prioritized areas into PCC frameworks can enhance maternal and child health outcomes and ensure effective implementation in resource-limited settings.

This study aims to explore young Black female university students' knowledge and utilization of preconception health (PH) while identifying the barriers associated with PH use DESIGN: This study employed a phenomenological qualitative exploratory approach and the Black feminist theory to understanding the phenomenon under investigation. Participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling between June and September 2023. Data was generated through a semi-structured interview, which was analyzed inductively using thematic analysis. Ten Black students ranging from 19 to 22 years old participated in this study. The students were enrolled in a four-year college at the time of this study. Based on the analysis, three broad themes emerged. The first theme, knowledge construction of preconception health, from which two sub-themes were derived, encompasses how participants describe their knowledge of PH. The second theme, utilization of preconception health services, focuses on participants' use or lack thereof of PH services, from which three sub-themes were generated. The third theme, barriers to PH, discussed the multifaceted barriers participants encounter when seeking care or the barriers to gaining knowledge about PH. The narrative demonstrates that knowledge of PH among some young Black women is low due to a plethora of issues transcending beyond their immediate locus of control into system and structural-level problems that are unique to Black women. This study has direct public health implications for Black maternal health, higher institutions, sociocultural norms, and broad health policy.

ObjectivesAlthough the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classify preconception health risks (PCHRs) into biomedical, behavioural and social categories, this classification remains theoretical, mainly inconsistent and lacks a scientifically robust framework. Data-driven clustering techniques may help clarify this complexity for policymakers and healthcare providers. This study aimed to assess the status of PCHRs and identify latent classes of these risks among women preparing for pregnancy.Design and methodsThis community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 31 July to 16 August 2024 in Tigray, Ethiopia, among 865 married women planning to conceive within the next 6 months. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Risk factor indicators covering lifestyle behaviours, substance use, nutritional risks and related factors were developed based on guidelines from the WHO, the CDC and national recommendations. Latent class analysis (LCA) was employed to identify distinct classes of PCHRs, with the optimal number of classes determined using statistical fit indices, adequacy criteria and interpretability. The study also evaluated the overall distribution of PCHRs among participants.Setting and participantsThe study took place in Tigray, Ethiopia, among married women intending to become pregnant within 6 months.OutcomeBurden of PCHRs and identified distinct latent classes of these risks within the participants.ResultsAll participants were exposed to at least four PCHRs, with 84.2% experiencing between 6 and 12 risk factors. The optimal LCA model identified four distinct classes of PCHRs: lifestyle behavioural risks (n=458, 52.9%), reproductive health risks and chronic medical conditions (n=106, 12.25%), nutritional risks and environmental exposure (n=149, 17.23%) and social determinants of health (n=152, 17.57%).ConclusionsOur study reveals a high baseline level of PCHRs, with all participants exhibiting multiple risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. The identification of four distinct risk profiles underscores the need for tailored risk-specific interventions, particularly in conflict-affected settings. Our findings point out the need for targeted preconception care and risk stratification in national health strategies to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Health care utilization around the time of pregnancy by extent of disability in the United States, 2018-2020.

Impact of mental health distress on preconception health.

Abstract While maternal health has long been the focus of reproductive and developmental research, increasing attention is being given to the father’s preconception health. Over the past two decades, growing evidence supports the Paternal Origins of Health and Disease (POHaD) paradigm, highlighting how paternal environmental factors prior to conception can significantly influence offspring development and long-term health. Rodent models have provided critical mechanistic insights into how paternal environmental exposure can alter the sperm epigenetic cargo. Emerging evidence indicates that paternal nutrition not only impacts the embryo but also the placenta. This review synthesizes current knowledge on how different types of paternal diet influence the sperm epigenome and the downstream consequences for the feto-placental unit and for pregnancy outcomes. We provide essential context: first, on the placenta’s sensitivity to environmental influences, and second, on the variability across studies exploring paternal dietary exposures, highlighting key factors that may modulate paternal effects. We then examine how an altered diet affects the sperm epigenome and describe the physiological and molecular consequences on embryonic and placental development. Importantly, these modifications are linked to adverse outcomes including fetal growth restriction and placental insufficiency, and may therefore contribute to maternal complications such as preeclampsia, known for its long-term cardiovascular impact on women. Our review underscores the need to integrate paternal health into preconception care strategies, alongside maternal health, as it could significantly improve pregnancy outcomes and long-term health of both mothers and offspring.

What support is needed for preconception health improvement, and by whom? A qualitative study of women's views

Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterized by rapid physical and psychosocial changes that influence reproductive health behaviors. Limited knowledge about premarital and preconception health contributes to risky behaviors such as early marriage, unplanned pregnancy, and inadequate preparedness for future reproductive roles. Digital media provides an accessible platform for health education among adolescents. To evaluate the effectiveness of the “Intip Aja Kalau Gak Percaya” (Information and Tips for Teenagers to Prevent Premature Marriage and Pregnancy) application in improving adolescents’ knowledge regarding premarital and preconception health.

Anencephaly, a lethal neural tube defect (NTD), results from failed cranial neural tube closure during early embryogenesis. Maternal risk factors, including obesity and inadequate periconceptional folic acid intake, are well-established contributors. This report describes a case involving a 29-year-old primigravida with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 28.03 kg/m² (overweight) who was referred at 39 weeks gestation for delivery following a prenatal diagnosis of anencephaly. The patient had no personal history of chronic illness but had not taken folic acid supplements prior to conception, initiating prenatal vitamins only after pregnancy confirmation. A cesarean section delivered a male infant with classic features of anencephaly. Despite resuscitation, the newborn died shortly after birth. The development of anencephaly in this instance is associated with two key modifiable risk factors: maternal overweight status and the absence of preconceptional folic acid supplementation. Neural tube closure occurs within the first month of pregnancy, often before pregnancy recognition, making folic acid initiation after confirmation too late to prevent NTDs. Maternal overweight or obesity is an independent risk factor that can compromise the fetal environment and potentially alter folate metabolism. This case underscores the critical importance of preconception health counseling, emphasizing the necessity of folic acid supplementation for all women of reproductive age, commencing before conception. This public health measure is particularly crucial for women with elevated BMI.

“It’s not about a question, it’s about the outcomes, isn’t it?”: pilot study for Scottish pregnancy screening tool provision of preconception health care in Scotland

Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the most common congenital anomalies. NTDs are caused by multiple factors that develop in the intrauterine stage and represent a critical birth defect morbidity and mortality. NTDs may depend on a risk factor modifiable by parents; hence, paternal health is important for transgenerational health, as it contributes half of the genetic material for the development of a new individual.Objective: This study aims to describe demographic, biochemical parameters, and seminal characteristics of parents of offspring with NTDs.Material and methods: At the General Hospital Zone No. 20 in Puebla, Mexico, parents of newborns or children with NTDs were identified. Clinical, toxicological, and environmental histories were obtained to identify risk factors for NTDs. Additionally, they were requested to provide a semen sample for spermiogram and sperm DNA fragmentation analyses.Results: Six fathers of children with NTDs were evaluated. Half of the offspring presented with meningocele and half with myelomeningocele. The mean paternal age at conception was 29±5.7 years. None reported folic acid supplementation; 83.3% consumed alcohol, 50% used tobacco, and 66.7% were overweight. Semen analysis showed abnormalities in 50% of cases, and all participants exhibited sperm DNA fragmentation.Discussion: Paternal preconception health is critically important for offspring development. Exposure to epigenetic factors such as environmental pollution, chemical endocrine disruptors, poor diet quality, lack of physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use, obesity, and conditions that induce oxidative stress can all compromise sperm quality and the health of progeny.Conclusion: Based on our findings, lack of folic acid supplementation, obesity, alcohol consumption, and sperm DNA fragmentation emerged as significant risk factors for the occurrence of NTDs.

Prenatal Substance Exposure and Obesity: Trajectories of Tri-Ponderal Mass Index in Early Adolescence.

Child marriage prevention as a preconception health strategy: A modelling-based cost-benefit analysis in Senegal.

BackgroundThe nutritional status of both women and men before conception impacts growth, development, and long-term health of future children. Evidence suggests that a substantial proportion of young adults lack adequate nutritional preparedness for future pregnancy. We have developed a digital resource, PREPARED, targeting young adults’ diet, nutrition literacy and dietary behavior that is presently being evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. The aim of the present study was to examine young adults´ thoughts and experiences following use of the e-learning resource.MethodsWe investigated whether the resource is perceived as useful by young adults (aged 20–35 years) and as practical support for obtaining a healthy diet. Nine young adults consented to participate and were given access to the resource for two months and were then interviewed using a semi-structured interview technique. Using a phenomenological approach the material was analysed by thematic analysis.ResultsThree main themes were identified: easier to make healthy choices, new justification for healthy eating, and further development. Access to recipes with simple and well-known ingredients and easy-to-read articles with a nuanced and positive focus were decisive factors for inspiration and motivation to change diet.Participants felt the resource saved time and appreciated its positive, informative approach. The emphasis on preconception nutrition was described as both enlightening and unfamiliar.Still, the resource has potential for improvements like navigation on the website, easier recipe portion estimation, and requests for more text to read.ConclusionAccording to young adults in this study, the PREPARED resource communicates clear and motivating messages about diet, health and the importance of nutritional preconception health for future parenthood. The resource was perceived as nuanced and trustworthy, which was highly valued. Our results inform future iterations of digital health tools or nutrition education programs for young adults.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40795-025-01151-w.

Overweight and obesity impacts approximately 50% of pregnant women. Professional medical colleges worldwide recommend women with a higher body mass index (BMI) lose weight before conception. While diet and lifestyle interventions before pregnancy are associated with improvements in diet and modest weight loss, subsequent clinical pregnancy outcomes are poorly reported.Our aim is to conduct a randomised controlled trial of a comprehensive lifestyle intervention for women with overweight or obesity who are planning pregnancy. We will evaluate the impact of this intervention on maternal health and well-being prior to conception; and pregnancy, birth and newborn health outcomes in a subsequent pregnancy. Women with a BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2 who plan to conceive within 2 years will be recruited.Women randomised to the 'Educational Control Group' will attend a pre-conception health consultation with a research midwife, providing limited information about obesity and associated risks in pregnancy, nutrition, exercise and weight management.Women randomised to the 'Pre-pregnancy Lifestyle Intervention Group' will attend a pre-conception health consultation with a research midwife, as above, and additionally consult with a research dietitian and trained health coaches throughout the 6-month intervention period. Women will also have access to a specifically designed mHealth application providing tailored content and interactive tasks delivered bi-weekly during this time. Secondary outcomes will include a range of maternal pre-conception health outcomes; maternal and infant pregnancy and birth outcomes; diet and physical activity changes; and quality of life.We estimate a mean birth weight z-score of 0.43 (SD 1.09) and will recruit 800 women to detect 0.4 SD difference (alpha 0.05 (two-tailed); power 80%). Analyses will be intention to treat with estimates reported as relative risks and 95% CIs. The study protocol was approved by the Human Research and Ethics Committee of the Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia (HREC/17/WCHN/177; 2020/HRE01445) on 17 August 2018. The first participant was recruited in June 2021, with recruitment anticipated through 2025. The study results will be disseminated in open-access international journals, scientific meetings and conferences with stakeholders. ACTRN 12621000128897. This study has been registered at (https://www.anzctr.org.au/).