Effectiveness of a Pediatric Primary Care Intervention to Increase Maternal Folate Use: Results from a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Addressing reproductive health needs across the life course: an integrated, community-based model combining contraception and preconception care

“…Although focused on a narrow part of preconception health, brief counselling and supplement provision resulted in greater uptake than supplement provision alone at up to 12 months in the USA, 35,[67][68][69][70] as did computerassisted counselling software. 35 In the Netherlands, folic acid use was also increased where information was given on collection of oral contraception from a pharmacy.…”

“…Self-completion of risk screening For example: • Tommy's (UK, no evidence yet) • Gabby 30,31 The interventions that have been most effective are those that have had repeated contact (either virtual or in person), have sought to reduce barriers (eg, providing supplements rather than just advising people to take them), 35,[67][68][69][70] and that include the partner, if there is one. 38 In line with the empowering approach of reproductive life planning, interventions that include motivational interviewing or an interactive component, 30,31 which encourage people to take ownership of developing their own plan to address issues that have arisen, are more effective than those that do not include such a component.…”

Integrating interconception care in preventive child health care services: The Healthy Pregnancy 4 All program

“…While a separate ICC consultation with other professionals such as GPs, midwives, or gynecologists could still be an opportunity in case of detected higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, awareness of certain ICC topics among professionals and women would at least be secured. For instance, other studies focusing on the promotion of folic acid supplementation in routine PCHC practice have shown promising results with regards to increased use and intention [18, 19]. Other encouraging, recently reported, ICC related practices that were aimed at mothers during well-child visits, include screening and addressing tobacco use, depression risk and contraception use [39, 40].…”

“…The idea that PCHC providers could contribute to the provision of ICC has been previously recognized in an advisory report on preconception care drafted by the Health Council of the Netherlands [17]. Until recently, a few promising ICC intervention studies focusing on folic acid supplementation were conducted in both Dutch and international PCHC settings [18, 19]. But to our knowledge, strategies to integrate more comprehensive ICC in PCHC are uncommon.…”

Exploring Health Behaviours, Attitudes and Beliefs of Women and Men during the Preconception and Interconception Periods: A Cross-Sectional Study of Adults on the Island of Ireland

“…Interconception health can address risk factors present in a previous pregnancy and optimise birth outcomes such as preterm birth, low birthweight infant or foetal loss [13]. Additionally, interventions among women with young children have been successful at increasing folic acid intake [14,15], and behavioural interventions (e.g., physical activity programmes, dietary interventions) have been shown to be effective in terms of weight loss among post-partum women [16]. This is of interest given the additional risks presented by excessive weight gain between pregnancies on subsequent pregnancies, including an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, caesarean section and large for gestational age infants [17].…”