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. 2021 Jan;35(1):116-120.
doi: 10.1177/0890117120927287. Epub 2020 May 20.

Change in Lifestyle Behaviors After Preconception Care: A Prospective Cohort Study

Meertien K Sijpkens  1 , Sabine F van Voorst  1 , Ageeth N Rosman  1 , Lieke C de Jong-Potjer  1 , Semiha Denktaş  1   2 , Birgit C P Koch  3 , Loes C M Bertens  1 , Eric A P Steegers  1
Affiliations

Change in Lifestyle Behaviors After Preconception Care: A Prospective Cohort Study

Meertien K Sijpkens et al. Am J Health Promot. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of preconception care (PCC) consultations by change in lifestyle behaviors.

Setting and intervention: Women in deprived neighborhoods of 14 Dutch municipalities were encouraged to visit a general practitioner or midwife for PCC.

Sample: The study included women aged 18 to 41 years who had a PCC consultation.

Design: In this community-based prospective cohort study, we assessed initiation of folic acid supplementation, cessation of smoking, alcohol consumption, and illicit drug use.

Measures: Self-reported and biomarker data on behavioral changes were obtained at baseline and 3 months later.

Analysis: The changes in prevalence were assessed with the McNemar test.

Results: Of the 259 included participants, paired analyses were available in 177 participants for self-reported outcomes and in 82 for biomarker outcomes. Baseline self-reported prevalence of no folic acid use was 36%, smoking 12%, weekly alcohol use 22%, and binge drinking 17%. Significant changes in prevalence toward better lifestyle during follow-up were seen for folic acid use (both self-reported, P < .001; and biomarker-confirmed, P = .008) and for self-reported binge drinking (P = .007).

Conclusion: Our study suggests that PCC contributes to initiation of folic acid supplementation and cessation of binge drinking in women who intend to become pregnant. Although based on a small sample, the study adds to the limited body of evidence regarding the benefits of PCC in improving periconception health.

Keywords: folic acid; health behavior; health promotion; preconception care; primary health care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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