Abstract
Background
Preconception care (PCC) is a comprehensive health intervention for women and couples to optimize parental and future child health, particularly for tertiary students at risk of poor reproductive complications. The study assessed the predictors of preconception care use among future healthcare professionals in Ghana.
Method
The research employed a cross-sectional study design involving 404 students selected from four health training institutions. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between the utilization of Patient-Centered Care (PCC) and sociodemographic factors. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.
Results
Less than half (49.3%) knew about PCC. A higher proportion of those who were aware of PCC (47.2%) indicated schools/teachers as their sources of information. In terms of PCC, only 22.3% had ever utilized PCC services, however, 77.5% of the respondents were willing to use PCC services in the future. Participants aged (AOR=2.27, 95%CI;1.00-5.12)]., respondents whose mothers had higher education status (AOR=2.99, 95%CI;1.21-7.37) and fathers with basic education (AOR=1.94, 95%CI; 1.01-3.70) were identified as a significant determinant to PCC utilization.
Conclusion
The study reveals low knowledge and utilization of PCC among health trainees in Savannah, Ghana. However, most of the participants are prepared for the adoption of PCC in the future. The factors influencing PCC utilization include parents' education and age.
Keywords:
preconception care, healthcare trainees, sociodemographic predictors, health education, reproductive health, GhanaReferences
Hemsing N, Greaves L, Poole N. Preconception health care interventions: a scoping review. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2017;14:24–32.
Sabr Y, Al-Zahrani NF, Labani RM, Alrasheed RA. Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of preconception care among women attending a university tertiary hospital in Riyadh: Cross-sectional study. J Med Sci. 2021;25(109):508-19.
World Health Organization. Meeting to develop a global consensus on preconception care to reduce maternal and childhood mortality and morbidity: World Health Organization Headquarters, Geneva, 6–7 February 2012: meeting report. 2013.
Mason E, Chandra-Mouli V, Baltag V, Christiansen C, Lassi ZS, Bhutta ZA. Preconception care: advancing from ‘important to do and can be done ’ to ‘is being done and is making a difference.’ Reprod Health. 2014;11(3):1–9.
World Health Organization. Preconception care to reduce maternal and childhood mortality and morbidity: policy brief. World Health Organization; 2013.
World Health Organization. Pre-conception care: maximizing the gains for maternal and child health. Policy Br. 2013.
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):1–10.
Kassa A, Human SP, Gemeda H. Knowledge of preconception care among healthcare providers working in public health institutions in Hawassa, Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2018;13(10):e0204415.
Ojifinni OO, Munyewende PO, Ibisomi L. Exploring the perception of and attitude towards preconception care service provision and utilization in a South Western Nigerian community–A qualitative study. African Popul Stud. 2021;35(1).
Dean S, Rudan I, Althabe F, Girard AW, Howson C, Langer A, et al. Setting research priorities for preconception care in low-and middle-income countries: aiming to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity. PLoS Med. 2013;10(9):e1001508.
Fekene DB, Woldeyes BS, Erena MM, Demisse GA. Knowledge, uptake of preconception care and associated factors among reproductive age group women in West Shewa zone, Ethiopia, 2018. BMC Womens Health. 2020;20(1):1–8.
Braspenningx S, Haagdorens M, Blaumeiser B, Jacquemyn Y, Mortier G. Preconceptional care: a systematic review of the current situation and recommendations for the future. Facts Views Vis ObGyn. 2013;5(1):13.
Helmer A. Increasing provider awareness and knowledge about preconception care to women of reproductive age. 2016.
Fadia M, Azza Refaat T, Emam E. Awareness of primary health care providers in Elminia Governorate about preconception care, Egipt. El-Minia Med Bull. 2012;23(1):14.
Bhatta P, Upreti K, Kalikotay B. Knowledge on preconception care among bachelor level nursing students of selected campuses in Bagmati province. J Chitwan Med Coll. 2021;11(3):58–62.
Whitworth M, Dowswell T. Routine pre-pregnancy health promotion for improving pregnancy outcomes. Cochrane database Syst Rev. 2009;(4):CD007536.
Boulet SL, Parker C, Atrash H. Preconception care in international settings. Matern Child Health J. 2006 Sep;10(5 Suppl):S29-35.
UNDP Ghana. 2015 Ghana Millennium Development Goals Report, Accra, Ghana. Available from: https://www.gh.undp.org/content/ghana/en/home/library/poverty/2015-ghana-millennium-development-goals-report.html; 2015. Accessed June 30, 2024.
Der EM, Moyer C, Gyasi RK, Akosa AB, Tettey Y, Akakpo PK, et al. Pregnancy related causes of deaths in Ghana: a 5-year retrospective study. Ghana Med J. 2013;47(4):158–63.
Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) ICF International GHS (GHS). Ghana demographic and health survey 2014. Rockville, Maryland, USA GSS, GHS, ICF Int. 2015.
Doe PF, Hormenu T, Enyan NIE. Integrating Preconception Health into Routine Reproductive Health Services of Ghana: A Qualitative Study Among University Students. J Fam Reprod Heal. 2022;43–51.
Kassa A, Yohannes Z. Women’s knowledge and associated factors on preconception care at Public Health Institution in Hawassa City, South Ethiopia. BMC Res Notes. 2018;11(1):1–6.
Lampic C, Svanberg AS, Karlström P, Tydén T. Fertility awareness, intentions concerning childbearing, and attitudes towards parenthood among female and male academics. Hum Reprod. 2006;21(2):558–64.
Santos MJ, Ferreira E, Duarte J, Ferreira M. Risk factors that influence sexual and reproductive health in Portuguese university students. Int Nurs Rev. 2018;65(2):225–33.
Mosalem FA, Azza A, Refaat TM, Emam EA. Awareness of primary health care providers in el-minia governorate about preconception care, egypt. 2012; 23(1):93-106.
Snedecor GW, Cochran WG. Statistical methods, 8th Ed. Ames Iowa State Univ Press Iowa. 1989;54:71–82.
Khanal LD. Knowledge and utilization of preconception care among women in the selected community of Kathmandu. J Patan Acad Heal Sci. 2020;7(2):112–23.
Olowokere AE, Komolafe A, Owofadeju C. Awareness, knowledge and uptake of preconception care among women in Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. J Community Med Prim Heal Care. 2015;27(2):83–92.
Du L, La X, Zhu L, Jiang H, Xu B, Chen A, et al. Utilization of preconception care and its impacts on health behavior changes among expectant couples in Shanghai, China. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021;21(1):1–8.
Akinajo OR, Osanyin GE, Okojie OE. Preconception care: Assessing the level of awareness, knowledge, and practice amongst pregnant women in a tertiary facility. J Clin Sci. 2019;16(3):87.
Bernardes ACF, da Silva RA, Coimbra LC, Alves MTSS de B, Queiroz RC de S, Batista RFL, et al. Inadequate prenatal care utilization and associated factors in São Luís, Brazil. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014;14(1):1–12.
Abor PA, Abekah‐Nkrumah G, Sakyi K, Adjasi CKD, Abor J. The socio‐economic determinants of maternal health care utilization in Ghana. Int J Soc Econ. 2011; 38(7):628-48.
Ayele AD, Belay HG, Kassa BG, Worke MD. Knowledge and utilization of preconception care and associated factors among women in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Health. 2021;18(1):1–15.
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Mubarick Nungbaso Asumah, Abdulai Abubakari, Abdul-Manaf Mutaru, Issah Sumaila, Hikmatu Nyefianto Asumah, Abdul-Malik Abdulai, Ibrahim Issah, Joshua Dindiok Dubik, Adisa Osman, Mulika Fasasi, Victoria B. Yarrow, Zeinab Abubakari, Fatimata Yakubu, Mohammed Mutawakil Ibrahim, Amina Yapaga Ewuntomah, Francisca Abangbila
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright© by the author(s). Published by the Evidence Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Abdul-Mumin Amankwa, Mubarick Nungbaso Asumah, Hassan Yakubu, Abdul-Malik Abdulai, Mohammed Issah, Abdulai Abubakari, Experiences of lactating nursing students: a qualitative study among nursing training institutions in the Northeast Region, Ghana , The Evidence: Vol. 2 No. 2 (2024): APR - JUN
- Meenu Singh, Joseph L. Mathew, Ranjit Sah, Celso Augusto Guimarães Santos, Adnan Kisa, Alfonso J. Rodríguez-Morales, Ashish Joshi, Jagdish Khubchandani, Jugal Kishore, Roy Rillera Marzo, Atin Adhikari, Abdulai Abubakari, Aditya Singh, Ahmad Neyazi, Aroop Mohanty, Russell Kabir, Vasso Apostolopoulos, Abhishek Mewara, Aravind P Gandhi, Bijaya K Padhi, Navigating the future of academic publishing: mission and vision of "The Evidence" , The Evidence: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2023): OCT - DEC
- Abubakari Abdulai, Balkisu Seidu, Osman Adiza, Abdul-Malik Abdulai, Suraya Malle Mohammed, Fatimata Yakubu, Delilah Nonterah, Mohammed Mutawakil Ibrahim, Mohammed Abdulai Kojo, Mubarick Nungbaso Asumah, Knowledge and practices of midwives on the administration of magnesium sulfate to pre-eclamptic or eclamptic women in a district level hospital , The Evidence: Vol. 2 No. 3 (2024): JUL - SEP