Preconception Care: Concepts and Perceptions: An ethical perspective

General individual preconception care is a new strategy to improve the health of future children and their mothers –and to a lesser extent the prospective fathers’ health- through primary intervention. Improving their health through preconception care comprises two component actions. The first is to impart relevant information to prospective parents, thereby improving knowledge. The second is to modify individual behaviour based on the knowledge gained. General individual preconception care anticipates on both these components and entails risk assessment, health promotion, counselling, and interventions. Risk assessment is the systematic identification and evaluation of risk factors for so-called adverse ‘pregnancy outcomes’. Risk factors vary widely and include not taking folic acid supplements, using medication that can cause malformations or functional damage to an embryo, overweight, smoking, diabetes or having an inheritable disease. Health promotion means informing and educating couples on how to improve their health in order to improve the future child’s health, including avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and the importance of proper nutrition and exercise. Prospective parents are counselled about additional screening, diagnostic tests, and specialist consultations that may be necessary if risks are identified. Intervention refers to efforts to modify or eliminate risk factors.

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