Perceptions of preconception counselling among women planning a pregnancy: a qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
Preconception care is a promising new approach to improve the health of future children through primary intervention. Although most women have a positive attitude towards preconception care, women often do not seek preconception care for themselves.


OBJECTIVE
To explore women's hesitancy to seek preconception counselling.


METHODS
An empirical-analytic approach was used to explore women's hesitation to seek preconception counselling. In-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews (n = 16) of women desiring to conceive were conducted, and responses were analysed using the determinants 'attitude' and 'subjective norms' of the Theory of Planned Behaviour of Ajzen.


RESULTS
The interviewed women expressed a positive attitude towards preconception care in general but were hesitant about seeking preconception care themselves. Women seemed to regard themselves as not being in the target group for preconception care. Additionally, we identified the following four subthemes of subjective norms around the process of becoming pregnant: planning, publicity, information on fertility and artificiality.


CONCLUSIONS
Women do not consider themselves to be part of the target group for preconception care. In some aspects, subjective norms around the process of becoming pregnant may conflict with the current practice of preconception care. Recommendations are provided.
['van der Zee|Boukje|B|', 'de Beaufort|Inez D|ID|', 'Steegers|Eric A P|EA|', 'Denktas|Semiha|S|']
D000328:Adult D003376:Counseling D005260:Female D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006801:Humans D007407:Interviews as Topic D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care D016742:Preconception Care D011247:Pregnancy D036301:Qualitative Research
preconception counselling subjective norms Medical ethics Theory of Planned Behaviour. qualitative research