Abstract:

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the preconception care and counseling (PCC) status and related factors in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional and descriptive online survey study. It was conducted between July and December 2020. A questionnaire consisting of 42 questions that evaluated the socio-demographic characteristics and PCC status of the participants was used as a data collection tool in the study. Results: The mean age of 280 pregnant women participating in the study was 30.4±4.55 years. 31.4% of pregnant women are themselves, and 11.8% of them reported that their spouses received PCC. Middle-income level, planning pregnancy, receiving treatment for pregnancy, and obtaining information about prevention methods in the pre-pregnancy period, were found to be factors that increase receiving PCC. When examining the pregnant women who stated that they received PCC within the scope of PCC by the caregiving healthcare worker, folic acid prescription in the antenatal period had the highest rate with 75.7%, with at least 10.4%, it was questioned whether they were exposed to domestic violence or not. It was found that most pregnant women received consultancy from gynecologists and obstetricians and secondly from their family physicians. Of those who do not receive PCC, 54.2% of them stated that they did not have information about the subject, 33.3% did not find it necessary to get PCC before pregnancy, and 12.5% stated that they had an unintended pregnancy. Conclusions: The rates of pregnant women receiving PCC were low. In terms of PCC, it is necessary to inform individuals of reproductive age and raise awareness about the subject at each contact.

Keywords: