Urban young women's preferences for intervention strategies to promote physical and mental health preconception: A Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI)

Abstract

This study aimed to qualitatively investigate young women's preferences for preconception intervention strategies to promote physical and mental health in a rapidly transitioning, urban setting. Four semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted with young women (n = 29, 18–24 years old) from Soweto, South Africa. Qualitative data were thematically analysed. Two main themes were identified: 1) challenges and needs of intervention beneficiaries; and 2) preferences for intervention strategies (content and delivery). The challenges participants mentioned could be classified as those relating to social pressure, identity, and socioeconomic circumstances. Mental health support appeared to be a greater need than physical health, and this featured in their preferences for intervention content, although a number of physical health topics were also mentioned (healthy eating and contraception). Participants had mixed preferences for intervention materials, ranging from printed to electronic and mobile resources. Their preferences for intervention activities ranged from educational sessions, to fun and interactive practical activities, and activities they could take home. Community health workers (CHWs) were the preferred agent of delivery for interventions, though participants emphasised the importance of CHWs having appropriate interpersonal skills and own life experience. Some women preferred one-on-one sessions with a CHW, while others preferred group sessions. While recognising the value of family sessions, young women were less enthusiastic about this approach. These findings provide valuable formative data for developing effective interventions to optimise young women's preconception health in urban Africa. These contextual realities should be acknowledged when addressing key physical and mental health issues facing young women.

Pilot implementation of Bukhali: A preconception health trial in South Africa

“…The findings of this pilot confirm the challenges mentioned in the formative research in this setting regarding healthy choices 25 and the need for social support. 26 The most striking finding was the difficulty in successfully administering peer sessions despite success in other settings and interventions.…”

“…Socioeconomic challenges include food insecurity, unemployment and difficulty finding working. 26 Young women’s preferences for intervention were found to be mixed, but there was consistency in the preference for community health workers (CHWs) as the delivery agent. 26 …”

Impact of Perception of Green Space for Health Promotion on Willingness to Use Parks and Actual Use among Young Urban Residents

“…In China, urban environments have led to changes in lifestyles that increase the risk factors for noncommunicable diseases [7]. To address urban-related health problems, various preventative measures have been proposed in urban environments [8][9][10]. Providing urban green spaces has become one of the important measures to affected by attitude, i.e., if a person's attitude toward a certain behavior is more positive, the person then has a stronger willingness to exhibit that behavior [37].…”

“…In China, urban environments have led to changes in lifestyles that increase the risk factors for noncommunicable diseases [ 7 ]. To address urban-related health problems, various preventative measures have been proposed in urban environments [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Providing urban green spaces has become one of the important measures to promote physical activity and enhance human well-being, which has aroused wide interest among researchers and policymakers [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Material and Relational Difficulties: The Impact of the Household Environment on the Emotional Well-Being of Young Black Women Living in Soweto, South Africa

“…This study forms part of the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) which aims to optimize young women’s physical and mental health before conception, and continuing through pregnancy and infancy, to improve maternal and child health and well-being. To inform the bottom-up interventions which will be implemented within this initiative (Draper et al, 2019), we sought to obtain scientifically more information from young women living in Soweto, a socially excluded township of Johannesburg, regarding their home environment. Precisely, we focused on the material conditions and the gender and intergenerational relationships at home to understand how this affects their well-being.…”