Trends and factors associated with self-reported receipt of preconception care: PRAMS, 2004-2010

Preconception care (PCC) is a form of primary prevention for promoting health, assessing risk, and intervening to modify risk factors to try to improve maternal and infant outcomes. Clinical provision of preconception care before and after the release of recommendations has not been evaluated. Our objective was to determine trends in self-reported receipt of PCC from 2004 to 2010, and factors associated with self-reported receipt of PCC.

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data from 12 states were used to determine trends in PCC. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with self-reported receipt of PCC.

The sample consisted of n = 64,084 women, with 30.8 percent reporting receipt of PCC. PCC increased from 30.3 percent in 2004 to 32.6 percent in 2010 (p = 0.08 for trend). Women who were younger, with lower household income, or with a preterm birth were less likely to report PCC. Women with lower levels of education, who were non-Hispanic black, intending pregnancy, without previous children, or with prepregnancy government insurance were more likely to report PCC.

Only one-third of women with a recent live birth report receipt of any PCC. There is a need to increase PCC receipt, especially among populations that demonstrate lower levels.