Preconception weight management: an untapped area of women’s health
Skye McPhie A , Helen Skouteris A E , Lynne Millar B , Craig Olsson A , Karen Campbell C , Paige van der Pligt C , Jodie Dodd D and Briony Hill AA School of Psychology, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia.
B School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia.
C School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia.
D Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Adelaide, Women’s & Children’s Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: helen.skouteris@deakin.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 23(1) 61-65 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY16004
Submitted: 30 November 2015 Accepted: 28 June 2016 Published: 5 August 2016
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify barriers to providing preconception weight management. Twenty health professionals participated in a semistructured phone interview regarding their beliefs on perceived barriers to providing preconception weight management. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and examined using thematic analysis to extract the key themes. Two themes were identified from the interviews: (1) barriers hindering women from accessing preconception weight management interventions (i.e. women’s lack of awareness regarding the importance of preconception weight, and not being provided with weight management information or interventions by health professionals); and (2) barriers preventing health professionals from providing preconception weight management (i.e. an absence of implementation resources for preconception weight management, limited access to women of childbearing age who plan to conceive, and a high percentage of pregnancies being unplanned). There are significant client- and heath professional-based barriers to implementing preconception weight management. To begin to address these barriers, developing policy and preconception weight management programs based on evidence collected via a needs assessment, quantitative or mixed-method designs may be of benefit. Furthermore, these barriers are likely contributing to the paucity in research into preconception weight management services.
Additional keywords: body weight, health personnel, health services, preconception care.
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