Determinants of the intention of preconception care use: lessons from a multi-ethnic urban population in the...

To investigate the determinants of the intention of preconception care use of women in a multi-ethnic urban population.

The ASE-model-a health behaviour model-was used as an explanatory framework. A representative sample was taken from the municipal population registers of two districts in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 2009-2010. 3,225 women (aged 15-60 years) received a questionnaire, which was returned by 631: 133 Dutch, 157 Turkish and Moroccan, and 341 Surinamese and Antillean. Descriptive, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

The multiple logistic analyses showed that intention to attend preconception care was significantly higher in women with a Turkish and Moroccan background (β 1.02, P = 0.006), a higher maternal age (β 0.04, P = 0.008) and a positive attitude (β 0.50, P < 0.001). Having no relationship (β -1.16, P = 0.004), multiparity with previous adverse perinatal outcome (β -1.32, P = 0.001), a high educational level (β -1.23, P = 0.03), having paid work (β -0.72, P = 0.01) and experienced barriers level (β -0.15, P = 0.003) were associated with less intention to use preconception care.

Modifiable determinants as attitude and barriers can be addressed to enhance preconception care attendance.