Abstract
Objective: The objective of the study was to determine knowledge and attitudes regarding preconception care in a low-income Mexican American population. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional survey of 305 reproductive-age women at an urban public hospital. Results: The sample was mostly Hispanic (88%) and pregnant (68%); 35% had not completed high school. Eighty-nine percent agreed that improving preconception health benefits pregnancy. Seventy-seven percent expressed some interest in preconception health care with the obstetrics gynecology office at the preferred location. The average knowledge of preconception care score was 76% (higher score more favorable). Areas of higher knowledge included the effects on pregnancy of folic acid; alcohol use; substance use; and verbal, physical, and sexual abuse; lower knowledge was found for the effects of cat litter and fish products. Conclusion: There was interest in preconception education and agreement that preconception health has a positive effect on pregnancy. Fewer respondents agreed that it had a good effect than a suburban sample in the same region (89% vs 98%).
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 686.e1-686.e7 |
Journal | American journal of obstetrics and gynecology |
Volume | 200 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2009 |
Keywords
- Mexican American
- health knowledge
- low-income
- preconception care
- prenatal care
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology