Preconception-Health-Related Attitudes of Bulgarian Women of Reproductive Age
Preconception care (PC) is relatively new area of practice. While the volume and quality of PC activities depend on local settings, the awareness of women is critical for the successful promotion of PC services. The aim of this study was to examine the preconception-health-related attitudes and expe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/7/989 |
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| author | Eleonora Hristova-Atanasova Georgi Iskrov Ralitsa Raycheva Viktoriya Mandova Rumen Stefanov |
| author_facet | Eleonora Hristova-Atanasova Georgi Iskrov Ralitsa Raycheva Viktoriya Mandova Rumen Stefanov |
| author_sort | Eleonora Hristova-Atanasova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Preconception care (PC) is relatively new area of practice. While the volume and quality of PC activities depend on local settings, the awareness of women is critical for the successful promotion of PC services. The aim of this study was to examine the preconception-health-related attitudes and experiences of Bulgarian women of reproductive age. A qualitative study conducted among 20 women aged 18 to 49 years was performed between May and July 2022. Two focus groups were used with mixed samples of nulligravida, pregnant, and postpartum women. The participants thought that the Internet and their obstetrician-gynecologist were the only places where they could learn about getting pregnant. Only two of them discussed their PC plans with their physicians. Women pointed out that general practitioners (GPs) need to be more proactive in promoting PC. All respondents outlined the need for a web-based educational platform that could serve as a primary source of health information for future families. The role and functions of GPs in the continuum of PC should be reconsidered. We recommend targeted educational measures for all stakeholders, including women and GPs. In this regard, an easily accessible, knowledge-based web platform could enhance Bulgarian women’s awareness and perceptions of PC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:37:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a5488767047b4cbc8118b418f765fae3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:37:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-a5488767047b4cbc8118b418f765fae32023-11-17T16:43:50ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-03-0111798910.3390/healthcare11070989Preconception-Health-Related Attitudes of Bulgarian Women of Reproductive AgeEleonora Hristova-Atanasova0Georgi Iskrov1Ralitsa Raycheva2Viktoriya Mandova3Rumen Stefanov4Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Social Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Social Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Social Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Social Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaPreconception care (PC) is relatively new area of practice. While the volume and quality of PC activities depend on local settings, the awareness of women is critical for the successful promotion of PC services. The aim of this study was to examine the preconception-health-related attitudes and experiences of Bulgarian women of reproductive age. A qualitative study conducted among 20 women aged 18 to 49 years was performed between May and July 2022. Two focus groups were used with mixed samples of nulligravida, pregnant, and postpartum women. The participants thought that the Internet and their obstetrician-gynecologist were the only places where they could learn about getting pregnant. Only two of them discussed their PC plans with their physicians. Women pointed out that general practitioners (GPs) need to be more proactive in promoting PC. All respondents outlined the need for a web-based educational platform that could serve as a primary source of health information for future families. The role and functions of GPs in the continuum of PC should be reconsidered. We recommend targeted educational measures for all stakeholders, including women and GPs. In this regard, an easily accessible, knowledge-based web platform could enhance Bulgarian women’s awareness and perceptions of PC.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/7/989preconception health and carereproductive agewomen’s healthpreconception behaviorweight managementgeneral practitioners (GPs) |
| spellingShingle | Eleonora Hristova-Atanasova Georgi Iskrov Ralitsa Raycheva Viktoriya Mandova Rumen Stefanov Preconception-Health-Related Attitudes of Bulgarian Women of Reproductive Age Healthcare preconception health and care reproductive age women’s health preconception behavior weight management general practitioners (GPs) |
| title | Preconception-Health-Related Attitudes of Bulgarian Women of Reproductive Age |
| title_full | Preconception-Health-Related Attitudes of Bulgarian Women of Reproductive Age |
| title_fullStr | Preconception-Health-Related Attitudes of Bulgarian Women of Reproductive Age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preconception-Health-Related Attitudes of Bulgarian Women of Reproductive Age |
| title_short | Preconception-Health-Related Attitudes of Bulgarian Women of Reproductive Age |
| title_sort | preconception health related attitudes of bulgarian women of reproductive age |
| topic | preconception health and care reproductive age women’s health preconception behavior weight management general practitioners (GPs) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/7/989 |
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