FIGO and IJGO are pleased to announce the publication of the FIGO Preconception Checklist: Preconception Care for Mothers and Babies. This paper was authored by the FIGO Committee on Well Women Health Care and the FIGO Committee on the Impact of Pregnancy on Long-Term Health 2021-2023.
The FIGO Preconception Checklist is a valuable tool for healthcare providers to use with patients to assess risk factors and health problems that may contribute to maternal and perinatal mortality and disease. is. This is aimed at ensuring that patients are in the best possible condition before pregnancy, with the broader aim of homogenizing preconception care in countries around the world. Designed to make planning and health management easier.
The period before pregnancy is a “window of opportunity”
Maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity are major global health problems. Introducing preventive care is a critical step to reducing the global average maternal mortality rate and eliminating deaths of newborns and their children under five years of age. Therefore, addressing health risks and establishing healthier habits during the pre-pregnancy period is important to prevent maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity.
Preconception care includes biomedical, behavioral, and social health interventions for women and couples before pregnancy. It aims to improve maternal and child health in the short and long term by reducing habits and factors that can contribute to poor maternal and child health.
FIGO’s approach to preconception care
The FIGO Preconception Checklist identifies important factors such as pre-existing chronic medical conditions, malnutrition, weight status, exposure to harmful environments, infections, unhealthy lifestyle, inadequate vaccination history, and inappropriate pregnancy spacing. deal with.
FIGO recognizes the important role that public health services play in effectively addressing all preconception health care needs. Health professionals should provide appropriate preconception care to all women during routine examinations, regardless of their pregnancy intentions.
FIGO advocates the importance of preconception care and is committed to promoting implementation initiatives across its member societies through the following activities:
- Develop and distribute resources for health professionals on preconception care, including the FIGO Preconception Checklist.
- Ensure that all health systems, policy makers and health care providers are aware of the impact of preconception care on the short- and long-term health of the population.
- Advocate for capacity building for health care providers and educators.
- Providing resources to support data collection and monitoring mechanisms at organizational and national levels to assess and monitor existing preconception care practices.
Read “FIGO Preconception Checklist: Preconception Care for Mother and Baby” here.
