The preconception period is a unique and opportunistic time in a woman's life when she is motivated to adopt healthy behaviors that will benefit her and her child, making this time period a critical "window of opportunity" to improve short- and long-term health. Improving preconception health can ultimately improve both fetal and maternal outcomes. Promoting health before conception has several beneficial effects, including an increase in seeking antenatal care and a reduction in neonatal mortality. Preconception health is a broad concept that encompasses the management of chronic diseases, including optimal nutrition, adequate consumption of folic acid, control of body weight, adoption of healthy lifestyles, and receipt of appropriate vaccinations. Use of the FIGO Preconception Checklist, which includes the key elements of optimal preconception care, will empower women and their healthcare providers to better prepare women and their families for pregnancy.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.15446 | DOI Listing |
Int J Gynaecol Obstet
April 2024
UCD Perinatal Research Centre, National Maternity Hospital, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
The preconception period is a unique and opportunistic time in a woman's life when she is motivated to adopt healthy behaviors that will benefit her and her child, making this time period a critical "window of opportunity" to improve short- and long-term health. Improving preconception health can ultimately improve both fetal and maternal outcomes. Promoting health before conception has several beneficial effects, including an increase in seeking antenatal care and a reduction in neonatal mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Gynaecol Obstet
October 2023
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Prenatal care and infant mortality rates are crucial indicators of healthcare quality. However, millions of women in low-income countries lack access to adequate care. Factors such as high-risk pregnancies and unmanaged diet increase the risk of developing complications during pregnancy, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring of maternal health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Gynaecol Obstet
January 2023
SAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Objective: To evaluate implementation of the FIGO Nutrition Checklist in a low/middle-income South African setting.
Methods: This is a mixed-methods study. Following administration of the FIGO Nutrition Checklist by a dietitian between July 2021 and May 2022, quantitative responses from pregnant (n = 96) and nonpregnant (n = 291) participants with overweight or obesity were analyzed, using logistic regression.
Nutrients
September 2022
Institute of Developmental Sciences, School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
Optimum nutrition and weight before and during pregnancy are associated with a lower risk of conditions such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. There is a lack of user-friendly tools in most clinical settings to support healthcare practitioners (HCPs) in implementing them. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability of (1) using a nutrition checklist designed by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) for nutritional screening of women in the preconception and early pregnancy period and (2) routine discussion of nutrition and weight in clinical care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWest Afr J Med
March 2022
Department of Family Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is an important reproductive health problem associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Despite the use of iron and folate supplementation, anti-helminthic and anti-malarial prophylaxis for pregnant women in Nigeria's antenatal policy, the prevalence of anaemia is still high. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence, and pattern of anaemia among pregnant women at booking for antenatal care at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida.
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