Volume 25, Issue 109, March, 2021

Knowledge, attitudes and practice of preconception care among women attending a university tertiary hospital in Riyadh: Cross sectional study

Yasser Sabr^1,2♦, Noor Faraj Al-Zahrani³, Reem Mohammed Labani⁴, Reem Afahad Alrasheed⁵

¹Assistant Professor, Consultant, Maternal Fetal Medicine, College of Medicine and University Hospitals, King Saud University, King Khalid University Hospital, 1st floor, Office 123, Saudi Arabia | Phone: +966 11 4692859, Email: ysabr@ksu.edu.sa
²Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz Research Chair for Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
³MBBS, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; dr.nooralzahrani@gmail.com
⁴MBBS, MD, Resident, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; reemlabani@gmail.com
⁵MBBS, MD, Resident, General surgery, prince sultan military medical city, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; dr.reemaf@gmail.com

^♦Corresponding author
Assistant Professor, Consultant, Maternal Fetal Medicine, College of Medicine and University Hospitals, King Saud University, King Khalid University Hospital, Saudi Arabia / Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz Research Chair for Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Email: ysabr@ksu.edu.sa

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Pregnancy in reproductive age is associated with many threats. Preconception care has since been implemented to encourage wellbeing during conception and enhance pregnancy-related outcomes. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the degree of awareness, behaviors and activities relevant to preconception care among women attending prenatal care appointments. Methodology: A cross-sectional analysis undertaken at King Saud University Medical City from April to December 2020. A questionnaire was administered to 1135 respondents aged 18 to 45 years. The questionnaire consisted of four areas, evaluating socio-demographic data and awareness, perceptions and experience of preconception. Results: The mean (SD) behaviors, practice and awareness scores were [11.37(3.94%), 15.39 (2.12%)/ and 10.13(2.30%)] respectively. Overall, 98.5 per cent of respondents had positive perceptions, 45.2 per cent had good methods and 51.9 per cent had good understanding of preconception treatment. Conclusion: The majority of women had moderate awareness and a neutral approach to preconception treatment. Educational intervention focused on a wellbeing belief paradigm is also suggested in order to enhance women's education and perceptions and establish preconception habits in these persons.

Keywords: Awareness, Mindset, Experience, Preconception, Reproductive era

Medical Science, 2021, 25(109), 508-519

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