Journal List > Korean J Women Health Nurs > v.19(4) > 1089450

Cho, Kim, and Jun: Gender Differences in Awareness of Preconception Care and Pregnancy

Abstract

Purpose

This study was conducted to identify awareness levels in regard to preconception care and gender differences targeting single undergraduate students in their 20s.

Methods

The study participants were 867 single undergraduate students aged 20~29 (523 women, 344 men). This was a descriptive research, in which awareness levels of preconception care and pregnancy were identified the through questionnaire surveys.

Results

Gender differences in the awareness of reproductive care before conception were found. Generally, women's awareness of issues related to preconception care and pregnancy was higher than that of men. Women recognized risk factors in pregnancy (χ2=22.85, p<.001) and positive behaviors (χ2=10.91, p = .012) better than men. Women's awareness of preconception care was significantly higher than that of men (t=8.37, p<.001). The awareness levels of the students who completed a reproduction related class (t=3.16, p = .002) and the students who knew about folic acid (t=-10.78, p<.001) in preconception care were statistically significantly higher.

Conclusion

The results indicate that the ways to educate and alert students to major risk factors before pregnancy and other reproductive care content before conception is to provide education both single women and single men.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Distribution of Demographic Characteristics of the Participants (N=867)
kjwhn-19-219-i001
Table 2
Compared the Difference of Awareness related to Preconception Health and Pregnancy with Gender, Attended Class, Folic Acid Aware (N=867)
kjwhn-19-219-i002
Table 3
Self-perceived Awareness of Dangerous and Positive Factors related to Fetus and Pregnancy
kjwhn-19-219-i003
Table 4
High and Middle Level Awareness of Issues Related to Preconception Health and Pregnancy
kjwhn-19-219-i004
Table 5
Low Level Awareness of Issues related to Preconception Health and Pregnancy
kjwhn-19-219-i005
Table 6
Awareness of Folic acid Related to Pregnancy
kjwhn-19-219-i006

References

1. Atrash H, Jack BW, Johnson K, Coonrod DV, Moos MK, Stubblefield PG, et al. Where is the "W"oman in MCH? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008; 199:S259–S265. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2008.08.059.
crossref
2. Ayoola AB, Nettleman MD, Stommel M, Canady RB. Time of pregnancy recognition and prenatal care use: A population-based study in the United States. Birth. 2010; 37:37–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-536X.2009.00376.x.
crossref
3. Beeckman K, Louckx F, Masuy-Stroobant G, Downe S, Putman K. The development and application of a new tool to assess the adequacy of the content and timing of antenatal care. BMC Health Serv Res. 2011; 11:213–222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-11-213.
crossref
4. Broussard DL, Sappenfield WB, Fussman C, Kroelinger CD, Grigorescu V. Core state preconception health indicators: A voluntary, multi-state selection process. Matern Child Health J. 2011; 15:158–168. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0575-x.
crossref
5. Choi JH, Yoo HS. Strategy for sexually transmitted infections prevention and control in Korea. Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;2013. Retrieved April 23. http://www.cdc.go.kr/CDC/notice/CdcKrInfo0301.jsp?menuIds=HOME001-MNU0004-MNU0036-MNU0037&cid=20316.
6. Choi WK. The smoking rate of women in her 20s was 23 percent. Medical Today;2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012. http://www.mdtoday.co.kr/mdtoday/index.html?no=206260.
7. Davidson M, London ML, Ladewig PW. Olds' Maternal-newborn nursing & women's health across the lifespan. 8th ed. New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall Health;2008.
8. Delgado CE. Undergraduate student awareness of issues related to preception health and pregnancy. Matern Child Health J. 2008; 12:774–782. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-007-0300-6.
9. Hoh JK, Park MI. The concepts and necessity of preconception care for men. J Korean Med Assoc. 2011; 54:808–817. http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2011.54.8.808.
crossref
10. Hong SC, Choi JS, Han JY, Nava-Ocampo AA, Koren G. Essence of preconception counseling and care. J Korean Med Assoc. 2011; 54:799–807. http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2011.54.8.799.
crossref
11. Jeon BW, Ohrr H, Han YJ, Yi SW. Influence of maternal pre-pregnancy hemoglobin concentration on stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birthweight. J Korean Soc Matern Child Health. 2009; 13:38–50.
12. Jeon BW, Ohrr H, Han YJ, Yi SW. Pregnancy body mass index and the risk of stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight. J Korean Soc Matern Child Health. 2012; 16:67–79.
13. Kim HO. An ethnographic study about Taegyo practice in Korea. J Nurs Acad Soc. 1997; 27:411–422.
crossref
14. Kim MH, Han JY, Cho YJ, Ahn HK, Kim JO, Ryu HM, et al. Factors associated with a positive intake of folic acid in the periconceptional period among Korean women. Public Health Nutr. 2009; 12:468–471. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1368980008002115.
crossref
15. Lee H, Lee K, Shin M. Analysis of maternal child health services in Korea-perspective of the premature infant. J Korean Acad Child Health Nurs. 2009; 15:81–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.4094/jkachn.2009.15.1.81.
16. Lee SJD. Taegyo Singi. SS Hong SK Lee . Seoul: Hankookmunhwasa;2011. (Original work published 1938).
17. Masho SW, Bishop DL, Keyser-Marcus L, Varner SB, White S, Svikis D. Least explored factors associated with prenatal smoking. Matern Child Health J. 2013; 17:1167–1174. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1103-y.
crossref
18. Mazza D, Chapman A. Improving the uptake of preconception care and periconceptional folate supplementation: What do women think? BMC Public Health. 2010; 10:786. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-786.
crossref
19. Park MI. Importance of preconception care in low-fertility society of Korea. J Korean Med Assoc. 2011; 54:796–798. http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2011.54.8.796.
crossref
20. Ricketts TC, Nielsen C. Introduction. Preconception care: Building the foundation for healthy women, babies, and communities. N C MED J. 2009; 70:416.
21. Ryu KY, Hoh JK, Park MI. Preconception infection and genetic counseling. J Korean Med Assoc. 2011; 54:838–844. http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2011.54.8.838.
crossref
22. De Santis M, Quattrocchi T, Mappa I, Spagnuolo T, Licameli A, Chiaradia G, et al. Folic acid use in planned pregnancy: An Italian survey. Matern Child Health J. 2013; 17:661–666. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1047-2.
crossref
23. Seo K, Kim MA. Guidelines for preconception care: From the maternal and child health perspectives of Koreans. J Korean Med Assoc. 2011; 54:845–850. http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2011.54.8.845.
24. Son MS. National survey on trends of induced abortion. 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://www.mw.go.kr/front_new/al/sal0301vw.jsp?PAR_MENU_ID=04&MENU_ID=0403&page=1&CONT_SEQ=259118&SEARCHKEY.
25. Statistics Korea. Marriage and divorce statistics in 2012. 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2013. http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/2/1/index.board?bmode=list&bSeq=&aSeq=&pageNo=3&rowNum=10&navCount=10&currPg=&sTarget=title&sTxt.
26. Verbiest S, Holliday J. Issue brief: Preconception care: Building the foundation for healthy women, babies,and communities. N C MED J. 2009; 70:417–426.
27. World Health Organization. Guideline: Daily iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnant women. Geneva: World Health Organization;2012.
TOOLS
Similar articles