Preconception Factors Affecting Pregnancy Outcomes

Abstract

Background: Preconception Care is a set of interventions that are to be provided before conception, to promote the health and well-being of women and couples, as well as to improve the pregnancy and child-health outcomes. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable because of the increasing economic, biological and social risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, Interventions carried out during adolescence are more effective in reducing the occurrence of unplanned & unhealthy pregnancies. Moreover, the government is unable to run preconception care program optimally so far. Hence a study was undertaken to assess the knowledge on ‘Preconception factors affecting pregnancy outcomes’ among female students of selected colleges of Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Method: It was a cross sectional study conducted on 1st year female students of selected Arts & Commerce colleges of Dadra & Nagar Haveli using structured questionnaire prepared in Google Forms. The Sample size was 112. The convenient sampling technique was used. Result:   The majority (60%) of female students of selected Arts & Commerce colleges had poor knowledge. The areas i.e. Oral Contraception (12%), Genetic Counseling (17%), Folic Acid Supplementation (22%), Diet (39%), Preconception Immunization (43%), Body Weight- BMI (48%) were lacking knowledge. Conclusion: The knowledge of female students was borderline. Regardless of its benefit in promoting maternal health, contributing to a healthy pregnancy, little is known concerning the prevalence of utilization of preconception care among adolescent girls. Hence it is necessary to involve all reproductive age women as well as couples for preconception care whether or not they are contemplating pregnancy, to improve maternal nutritional status and birth outcomes in future.