OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine whether intention for future pregnancy affects selected preconception health behaviors that may impact pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Analyses are based on data from a population-based cohort study of women ages 18-45 residing in Central Pennsylvania. A subsample of 847 non-pregnant women with reproductive capacity comprise the analytic sample. We determined the associations between intention for future pregnancy and the pattern in the following health behaviors over a 2-year period: nutrition (fruit and vegetable consumption), folic acid supplementation, physical activity, binge drinking, smoking, and vaginal douching. Multivariable analyses controlled for pregnancy-related variables, health status, health care utilization, and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: At baseline, 9% of women were considering pregnancy in the next year, 37% of women were considering pregnancy some other time in the future, and 53% of women were not considering future pregnancy. In multivariable analyses, there were no associations between intention for future pregnancy and maintaining healthy behavior or improving behavior for any of the seven longitudinal health behaviors studied. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of nutrition, folic acid supplementation, physical activity, avoiding binge drinking, not smoking, and avoiding vaginal douching in the preconception period needs to be emphasized by health care providers and policy makers.
OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine whether intention for future pregnancy affects selected preconception health behaviors that may impact pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Analyses are based on data from a population-based cohort study of women ages 18-45 residing in Central Pennsylvania. A subsample of 847 non-pregnant women with reproductive capacity comprise the analytic sample. We determined the associations between intention for future pregnancy and the pattern in the following health behaviors over a 2-year period: nutrition (fruit and vegetable consumption), folic acid supplementation, physical activity, binge drinking, smoking, and vaginal douching. Multivariable analyses controlled for pregnancy-related variables, health status, health care utilization, and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: At baseline, 9% of women were considering pregnancy in the next year, 37% of women were considering pregnancy some other time in the future, and 53% of women were not considering future pregnancy. In multivariable analyses, there were no associations between intention for future pregnancy and maintaining healthy behavior or improving behavior for any of the seven longitudinal health behaviors studied. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of nutrition, folic acid supplementation, physical activity, avoiding binge drinking, not smoking, and avoiding vaginal douching in the preconception period needs to be emphasized by health care providers and policy makers.
Authors: Cuilin Zhang; Michelle A Williams; Ihunnaya O Frederick; Irena B King; Tanya K Sorensen; Mark M Kestin; Edward E Dashow; David A Luthy Journal: J Reprod Med Date: 2004-04 Impact factor: 0.142
Authors: Cuilin Zhang; Michelle A Williams; Tanya K Sorensen; Irena B King; Mark M Kestin; Mary Lou Thompson; Wendy M Leisenring; Edward E Dashow; David A Luthy Journal: Epidemiology Date: 2004-09 Impact factor: 4.822
Authors: Mario P DeMarco; Maha Shafqat; Michael A Horst; Sukanya Srinivasan; Daniel J Frayne; Lisa Schlar; Wendy Brooks Barr Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2020-11-27
Authors: Tuck Seng Cheng; See Ling Loy; Yin Bun Cheung; Keith M Godfrey; Peter D Gluckman; Kenneth Kwek; Seang Mei Saw; Yap-Seng Chong; Yung Seng Lee; Fabian Yap; Jerry Kok Yen Chan; Ngee Lek Journal: Prev Sci Date: 2016-11