Preconception care: Educational intervention to improve knowledge and attitudes of women of reproductive age
Main Article Content
Keywords
Preconception Care, Reproductive Health, Women´s Health, Health Education
Abstract
Introduction: Nearly half of all pregnancies worldwide are unplanned, and both maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain high. In Mexico, the lack of preconception care (due to socioeconomic barriers and misinformation) increases health risks and costs.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving knowledge and attitudes toward preconception care among women of reproductive age.
Methodology: A study using convenience sampling was conducted with 424 women from six agricultural communities, divided into two groups: an intervention group (IG, n = 235) and a control group without intervention (CG, n = 189). The IG received four educational sessions, while the CG only received informational brochures. Validated questionnaires were used to measure knowledge and attitudes, and the results were analyzed using SPSS and Excel.
Results: The average age of participants was 27.37 years (± 7.9). Knowledge scores improved from a pretest range of 32–52 to a posttest range of 38–52, showing a significant increase. Attitude scores improved from 26–50 in the pretest to 43–50 in the posttest. The Wilcoxon test showed statistically significant differences in knowledge (Z = -13.282, p < 0.001) and attitudes (Z = -9.798, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of educational interventions in increasing knowledge and improving attitudes related to preconception care. It is recommended that health programs be adapted to the specific sociocultural contexts and characteristics of each community.
References
2. Naciones Unidas. Noticias ONU. Online]; 2023. Acceso 20 de mayo de 2024. Disponible en: https://news.un.org/es/story/2023/05/1520807
3. Gobierno de México. Las Madres enCifras. [Online]; 2018. Acceso 20 de 05de 2024. Disponible en: https://bit.ly/455NUvB
4. México Gd. 20 principales Motivos de onsulta. [Online]; 2022. Acceso 23 de 04de 2024. Disponible en: https://bit.ly/3UbtrAj
5. Ayele AD, Belay HG, Kassa BG, Worke MD. Knowledge and utilisation of preconception care and associated factors among women in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis. Reproductive health. 2021. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01132-9
6. Skogsdal Y, Fadl H, Cao Y, Karlsson J, Tydén T. An intervention in contraceptive counseling increased the knowledge about fertility and awareness of preconception health-a randomized controlled trial. Upsala journal of medical sciences. 2019. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1080/03009734.2019.1653407
7. Berhane A, Belachew T. Effect of Picture-based health education and counselling on knowledge and adherence to preconception Iron-folic acid supplementation among women planning to be pregnant in Eastern Ethiopia: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of nutritional science. 2022. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2022.51
8. Martínez G. Hernández F. Blanco M.E. Intervención educativa preconcepcional de efectos embriofetales de la diabetes mellitus. Policlínico Universitario Carlos Verdugo. Rev. Med. Electrónica [Internet]. 2021. [consultado 05 de abril del 2024]; Vol. 43 no. 2. Disponible en: https://bit.ly/4aBOoKU
9. Tirado R. Favier MA. Galano K. Calzado D. and Lastres C. Intervención educativa sobre riesgo preconcepcional en mujeres de un Área de salud en Guantánamo. Gaceta Médica Espirituana. 2022; 24(3). Disponible en: https://doaj.org/article/0ee26b913d73468f9019da65835d3ac4
10. Valencia OL. Relación entre conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre los trastornos hipertensivos del embarazo en mujeres de edad fértil. Palmira Dávalos, Guamote, enero a junio 2016 [tesis]. Riobamba: Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Disponible: http://dspace.espoch.edu.ec/handle/123456789/6009
11. Chiquillán Cabrera DM. Factores asociados al conocimiento de la atención preconcepcional en gestantes atendidas en el Hospital Nacional Sergio E. Bernales [tesis para obtener el grado Licenciada en Obstetricia] Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. 2022. Disponible en: https://cybertesis.unmsm.edu.pe/handle/20.500.12672/18461?show=full
12. Munthali M. Chiumia IK. Mandiwa C. Mwale S. Knowledge and perceptions of preconception care among health workers and women of reproductive age in Mzuzu City, Malawi: a cross-sectional study. Reprod Health. 2021;18(1):75. Disponible: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01282-w
13. Nascimento N. Vilela AL. y Fujimori E. Preconception health behaviors among women with planned pregnancies. Rev Bras Enferm [Internet]. 2019. (Revisada 16 de abril del 2023) Dec; 72: 17–24. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2017-0620
14. Sobrevilla Condori HY, Quillas Melgar JJ. Diseño de una estrategia de intervención educativa y conocimiento sobre riesgo preconcepcional, en usuarias del centro de salud Parcona, [tesis para obtener el grado de profesional de obstetra] Universidad Autónoma de Ica. 2023. Disponible en: http://repositorio.autonomadeica.edu.pe/handle/20.500.14441/246
15. Rojas J. Contreras I. Chaparro C. Quintero A. y González R. Evaluación en el nivel de conocimiento de las madres después de aplicada una estrategia educativa. Venezuela 2015. Rev. chil. nutr. [Internet]. 2019 Abr [citado 2024 mayo 07]; 46 (2): 107-112. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/s0717-751820190002000107
16. Molina LC, Torres AE. Presencia de una adecuada red de apoyo social y su relación con conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas apropiadas frente a signos y síntomas de alarma en gestantes con diagnóstico de preeclampsia, en tres hospitales en el distrito metropolitano de Quito que cuentan con el área de atención gineco-obstetra, Hospital General Dr. Enrique Garcés; Maternidad Isidro Ayora y Hospital Pablo Arturo Suárez [disertación]. Quito: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; 2016. Disponible: https://repositorio.puce.edu.ec/items/84edc0f0-e60c-4298-b7fc-67d4ab40fdd7/full
17. Pérez K. Serrano M. Hernández K. y Fernández H. Educación para la salud y acciones de enfermería: una articulación en el control del riesgo preconcepcional. [Internet]. Rev. Cub. Enfer. 11-01-2016; 32 (2). Pp. 218-225. Disponible: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0864-03192016000200008
Article Sidebar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.