Preconception Care in a Remote Aboriginal Community Context: What, When and by Whom?

Emma Griffiths, Julia V Marley and David Atkinson
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Emma Griffiths: The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia, Broome, WA 6725, Australia
Julia V Marley: The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia, Broome, WA 6725, Australia
David Atkinson: The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia, Broome, WA 6725, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: Preconception care (PCC) is acknowledged as a vital preventive health measure aiming to promote health today and for subsequent generations. We aimed to describe the content and context of PCC delivery in a very remote Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service setting. A retrospective audit was undertaken to identify what PCC was delivered between 2011 and 2018 to 127 Aboriginal women who had at least one pregnancy during this period. Of 177 confirmed pregnancies, 121 had received PCC prior to the pregnancy. Sexually transmissible infection screening (71%) was the most common care delivered, followed by folic acid prescription (57%) and smoking cessation support (43%). Younger women received PCC less often, particularly screening for modifiable pregnancy risk factors. Rates of prediabetes/diabetes, albuminuria, overweight/obesity and smoking were high amongst those screened (48–60%). PCC was usually patient-initiated and increased significantly over the audit period. Presentation for antenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy was high at 73%. Opportunities to increase PCC delivery include integration with routine health checks, pregnancy tests and chronic disease programs. PCC programs codesigned with young people are also recommended. All primary care providers should be supported and assisted to provide opportunistic PCC and health promotion.

Keywords: preconception; aboriginal health; reproductive health; primary care; preventive care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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