Preconception care among low-risk mothers in a French perinatal network: Frequency of utilization and factors associated

Abstract

Objective: Determine the frequency of preconception care use in France and factors impacting preconception visit.

Materials and methods: An epidemiological study was conducted from September 2015 to October 2015 in 5 maternity hospitals within the "Alpes-Isère" perinatal network, comprising of French-speaking women, with uncomplicated pregnancies, who delivered a healthy term baby (≥37 weeks of gestational age). Two groups were compared: patients with and without preconception care. Descriptive, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for the sociodemographic, the environmental characteristics and the gynecologic obstetric history.

Results: Among the 392 patients included in this study, only 62 (15.8% [12.0-20.0]) had used preconception care before their pregnancy. Multivariate analysis showed that the primiparous women (adjusted OR 2.47 [1.37-4.46]) and the women with a high socio-professional category (adjusted OR 2.32 [1.13-4.77]) were more likely to used preconception care.

Conclusion: Despite the positive effects on mother and baby's health, preconception care is insufficiently used in France. Every effort must be made to improve awareness of preconception care among health workers and patients.

Keywords: Frequency; Preconception care; Pregnancy outcomes; Primary care.