Web-based Preconceptional Care and Counseling, Risk Awareness, Healthy Lifestyle Behavior

The Effect of Web-based Preconceptional Care and Counseling on Risk Awareness and Healthy Lifestyle Behavior in Women

Preconceptional (pre-pregnancy) care; It is a primary care preventive health service that aims to prepare individuals for pregnancy, to maintain and result in a healthy pregnancy process, and thus to contribute to the formation of new generations from healthier individuals. The purpose of preconceptional care; identifying the risk factors present in the woman is to eliminate or reduce the adverse effects of these risk factors in the pregnancy process, improve health, improve mother and child health in the short and long term. Preconception counseling (PC), on the other hand, is to provide training on the best way to achieve a healthy pregnancy by addressing women's existing health problems and modifiable risk factors. When performing PC and care, it is necessary to maintain a system based on evidence and to assess women's holistic and create risk awareness. The creation of risk awareness in women should begin with the determination of the risk factors present before pregnancy. It is also very important to identify pre-pregnancy risk factors and to provide healthy lifestyle behaviors. Today, web-based training is known to be used to adapt individuals to new situations and to improve the health of individuals, to improve positive behavior changes.This research was conducted to determine the effect of web-based preconceptional care and counseling on risk awareness and healthy lifestyle behavior in women.

Planning fertility with evidence-based management while providing preconceptional care and counseling; advanced maternal and paternal age; family history, genetic history and diseases; physical activity, body mass index; nutrition; vaccination; sexually transmitted infections; chronic diseases; drugs ;harmful habits and exposure; Psychosocial sub-dimensions of women should be evaluated holistically and risk awareness should be created.As a matter of fact, creating risk awareness in women should start with the identification of risk factors that exist before pregnancy. It is possible to gain healthy lifestyle behaviors with the determination of these risk factors and taking the necessary precautions.Studies have shown that preconception care and counseling services provide cost-effectiveness while improving maternal and child health; It is emphasized that health institutions that are inadequate in providing this service should develop strategies to encourage preconceptional care and counseling at the community level, especially for women.Recommendations of reputable organizations such as CDC, ACOG, WHO; It has been concluded that preconceptional care and counseling services should be expanded more effectively and quickly in line with the results and recommendations of the researches; It is thought that this widespread effect can be achieved by using the internet and web-based trainings, which are a part of our lives.It is reported in the literature that web-based trainings are seen as an appropriate intervention area in reaching women of childbearing age who need preconceptional care and counseling.Although there are studies in the world that web-based PC and care services are provided and that they affect health positively; No studies on web-based PC and maintenance services have been found in our country.The results obtained from this study; establishing a comprehensive evidence-based standard PC and maintenance program; improving risk awareness and healthy lifestyle behaviors of women of childbearing age; It is thought that it will lead to the encouragement of the use of modern technology areas in the field of PC and care services, to the development of all health personnel, especially midwives, who want to provide comprehensive services in this field, to use web-based PC and maintenance program in field applications, and to contribute to the midwifery literature in the planning of advanced studies. .

Inclusion Criteria:

• Literate,
• Between the ages of 18-49, who are of childbearing age,
• Not pregnant,
• Not receiving preconceptional care and consultancy services,
• Does not have a disorder based on a psychiatric/psychological diagnosis,
• No diagnosis of menopause,
• Internet access,
• Using at least one computer-tablet-smartphone,
• Communicable and language-free

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who do not agree to participate in the research,
• under 18 years old and over 49 years old,
• pregnant,
• Receiving preconceptional care and counseling before,
• illiterate,
• No internet access,
• Not having at least one computer-tablet-smartphone,
• Having a disorder based on a psychiatric/psychological diagnosis,
• Diagnosed with menopause,
• Having communication and language problems.