Preconception health indicators
Where in the US are women most likely to stop drinking before they get pregnant? Get a checkup? Take folic acid? The CDC recently asked these questions to find out how to reduce risky preconception behavior.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a first-of-its-kind analysis of the status of 39 recommended core preconception indicators monitored through the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The findings-on factors ranging from access to routine check-ups to nutrition to use of tobacco and alcohol-reflect data from more than 100,000 nonpregnant women aged 18 to 44 throughout the country in 2009. The report points to opportunities for improving women’s preconception health by reducing risky behaviors, increasing access to health care, and scaling up proven strategies for reducing persistent health disparities among women at highest risk.
Source: Robbins CI, Zapata LB, Farr SL, et al. Core state preconception health indicators-pregnancy risk assessment monitoring systems and behavioral risk factor surveillance system, 2009. MMWR. 2014;63(3):1–68.
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