Men Aged 15-44 in Need of Preconception Care

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health
• Men's Health

Background:

• Preconception care is crucial for improving pregnancy and infant outcomes.
• Little is known about the men in need of preconception care in the U.S.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the proportion of U.S. men in need of preconception care.
• To identify factors associated with the need for preconception care among men.
• To examine access to and receipt of health services among men in need.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from men aged 15-44 from the National Survey of Family Growth (2006-2010).
• Definition of need for preconception care based on childbearing intentions and fecundity status.
• Weighted bivariate analyses to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• Approximately 60% of men are in need of preconception care.
• Higher prevalence of need observed in younger men (15-29), urban dwellers, those not in a union, recent immigrants, and childless men.
• Men in need often were overweight/obese (56%), reported binge drinking (58%), or had high STI risk (21%).
• While >70% had access to care, less than 20% received STD/HIV testing or counseling.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight the significant proportion of men requiring preconception care.
• There is a critical gap in the receipt of essential preventive services, such as STD/HIV testing and counseling, among men in need.
• Implications exist for targeted public health interventions to promote preconception care for U.S. men.