Preconception Care and its Importance for the Health of Mother, Fetus, and Newborn in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Years ۲۰۰۹-۲۰۱۲

Introduction: Preconception care is an integral part of healthcare services for women, in which the existing risks for pregnancy are evaluated. This study aimed to determine the frequency of preconception care and its importance for the health of mother, fetus, and newborn in years ۲۰۰۹-۲۰۱۲.  Methods: In this descriptive retrospective study, the study population included newly-pregnant mothers, who had received preconception care and resided in urban and rural areas of counties. Data were gathered using forms of maternal care, which were prepared using the content of maternal health records. Results:In ۲۰۰۹, of ۹۰,۳۲۹ pregnant mothers, who had referred to healthcare centers, ۱۹,۲۳۳ women (۲۱.۳%) had received preconception care. Among ۷۷,۵۶۳ pregnant mothers in ۲۰۱۰, ۲۲,۱۴۳ mothers (۲۸.۵%) had been provided with preconception care. Also, of ۸۴,۶۲۸ and ۸۹,۶۹۳ pregnant mothers, who had referred to healthcare centers in years ۲۰۱۱ and ۲۰۱۲, ۳۹.۲% and ۴۲.۸% had received preconception care by midwives and doctors, respectively. Conclusion:Preconception care was provided for ۱۹,۲۳۳ eligible women in ۲۰۰۹, for ۲۲,۱۴۳ women in ۲۰۱۰, for ۳۰,۷۴۳ women in ۲۰۱۱, and for ۳۶,۰۲۹ women in ۲۰۱۲; this shows an increasing trend from ۲۰۰۹ to ۲۰۱۲. It seems that many diseases and medical conditions, which increase the mortality rate (as well as maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications) and require proper management, were identified and followed-up during these checkups.

کلیدواژه ها:

Preconception care ، Pregnant ، The health of mother and fetus