Childbearing women's views on preconception healthcare.

Abstract

The study aimed to explore childbearing women's views on preconception healthcare. The objectives for the study were to explore women's knowledge and understanding of the importance of preconception care and to explore women's views on the provision of preconception health care services. To fulfil the study's aim, a self-administered structured questionnaire was utilized. The sample included seventy-one Maltese women recruited by convenience sampling. Participants were recruited from preparatory marriage courses as these are the prospective conceiving women in the Maltese population. A pilot study was performed before the actual study. A 100 % response rate was yielded. Data was analyzed manually using descriptive statistics while the results were presented by pie charts and bar charts. Results showed that the absolute majority of the participants agreed that preconception care is useful and that they would use the service of a preconception clinic if it is set up in Malta. Most of the participants chose the obstetrician or gynaecologist as the main health care provider that should provide this service. Most of the women were knowledgeable on subjects such as smoking and alcohol cessation, illicit drug use and genetic counselling during the preconception period~ The women lacked information in other areas such as folic acid intake, handling cat litter and diet. The results were discussed and compared to other similar studies while recommendations for research, education and midwifery practice were made. Recommendations included further research in this area while encouraging Maltese midwives to embark on their role in the provision of preconception care.