Preconception knowledge, beliefs and behaviours among people of reproductive age: A systematic review of qualitative studies

Hannah Welshman; Stephan Dombrowski; Aileen Grant; Vivien Swanson; Alex Goudreau; Sinéad Currie

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107707

Preconception knowledge, beliefs and behaviours among people of reproductive age: A systematic review of qualitative studies

Prev Med. 2023 Oct:175:107707. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107707. Epub 2023 Sep 18.

Authors

Hannah Welshman¹, Stephan Dombrowski², Aileen Grant³, Vivien Swanson¹, Alex Goudreau⁴, Sinéad Currie⁵

Affiliations

¹ Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
² Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, Canada.
³ School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Practice, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen AB10 7AQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
⁴ Science and Health Sciences Librarian, University of New Brunswick, Canada.
⁵ Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Electronic address: Sinead.currie@stir.ac.uk.

PMID: 37730135
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107707

Abstract

Background: The health of parents before pregnancy influences the short- and long-term health of their offspring. This systematic review explored the preconception knowledge, beliefs and behaviours held by women and men of childbearing age.

Methods: Databases were searched from 2009 to 2022 (MEDLINE, CINAHL Full-text, PsycINFO, EMBASE). Inclusion criteria specified qualitative research papers which recruited individuals of reproductive age (16-45 years) without existing chronic illnesses. Data were quality assessed and analysed using thematic synthesis.

Results: Twelve papers met inclusion criteria. Six themes were identified (cultural context, pregnancy planning, knowledge, gender roles and responsibility, information seeking, prior health behaviours) which relate to individual, social, psychological and cultural factors. Cultural context was related to all other themes. Pregnancy planners had greater motivation to optimise their health whereas those not actively planning were focused more on becoming financially stable. Women and men's knowledge of how and why to engage in health protective behaviours was limited, with health risks and behaviour change discussed in the context of pregnancy rather than preconception. Gender roles influenced individual responsibility for preparation for pregnancy, which in turn influenced information seeking behaviours and engagement in health behaviours. Online sources of support and information were seen as desirable, regardless of pregnancy planning stage.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that behaviour change interventions designed to support people to optimise health before conception should address cultural, individual, social and psychological factors to facilitate behaviour change. Development of online resources may help to increase accessibility for people across different cultural contexts and stages of pregnancy planning.

Keywords: Beliefs; Health behaviours; Knowledge; Preconception; Pregnancy planning; Qualitative; Systematic review.

Publication types

Review