Sohni V Dean|Zohra S Lassi|Ayesha M. Imam|Zulfiqar A Bhutta
Preconception care: closing the gap in the continuum of care to accelerate improvements in maternal, newborn and child health
Aga Khan University|Aga Khan University|Aga Khan University|Aga Khan University
preconception care includes intervention optimize womans health pregnancy aim improve maternal newborn child health mnch outcomes preconception care bridges gap continuum care addresses prepregnancy health risks health problems could negative maternal fetal consequences therefore potential reduce global maternal child mortality morbidity especially lowincome countries highest burden pregnancyrelated deaths disability occurs systematic review metaanalysis evidence conducted ascertain possible impact preconception care adolescents women couples reproductive age mnch outcomes comprehensive strategy used search electronic reference libraries observational clinical controlled trials included crossreferencing separate search strategy preconception risk intervention ensured wider study capture women received preconception care either healthcare center community showed improved outcomes smoking cessation increased use folic acid breastfeeding greater odds obtaining antenatal care lower rates neonatal mortality preconception care effective improving pregnancy outcomes studies needed evaluate consistency magnitude effect different contexts develop assess new preconception interventions establish guidelines provision preconception care