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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Sam Posner, PhD¹, Kay Johnson, MPH, EdM², Christopher S. Parker, MPH, MPA³, Janis Biermann, MS⁴, and Hani Atrash, MD, MPH³. (1) Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, K-21, Atlanta, GA 30333, 770-488-6398, SHP5@CDC.GOV, (2) Dartmouth Medical School, 175 Red Pine Road, Hinesburg, VT 05461, (3) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Hereditary Blood Disorders, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MS-E64, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, (4) Education and Health Promotion, March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605

Improving preconception health is a critical to improving health outcomes for women and infants. For more than 20 years, professional guidelines have called for preconception care, and several reviews of the literature have documented the evidence supporting the specific interventions. Yet it is clear that improving preconception health among the more than 62 million women of childbearing age will require a multi-strategic, action-oriented initiative.

The work of a Select Panel and a CDC expert working group resulted in the publication of recommendations for improving preconception health and health care in an April 2006 MMWR. The overarching goal of these recommendations is to improve the health of women and couples, before conception of a first or subsequent pregnancy. The ten broad recommendations are focused on changes in consumer knowledge, clinical practice, public health programs, health care financing, and data and research activities. Each recommendation is accompanied by a series of specific action steps, which could be implemented now and could yield results within two to five years and help achieve the nation's Healthy People 2010 Objectives.

Together the vision, goals, recommendations, and action steps described in the MMR document create a strategic plan for improving the health of women, their children, and their families. This presentation will describe the potential impact of this strategic plan and recommendations to improve both preconception health and preconception care, as well as early implementation efforts. Roger's “diffusion of innovation” theory will be used as a framework to show priority areas for action.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• describe the importance of preconception health for women and their families
• list the ten recommendations for improving preconception care and list the action steps outlined under each recommendation
• describe the roles and responsibilities of individuals, clinicians, public health practitioners and researchers in improving preconception health
• describe areas of preconception health care that need further research

Keywords: Maternal Health, Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation