Co-Creating Preconception Health Content for a Digital Resource for Women From Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• Culturally marginalized women face higher risks of unintended pregnancies and adverse outcomes.
• Improving health literacy with culturally relevant resources can enhance preconception health.
• Digital platforms are preferred for receiving preconception information among migrant and refugee women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the content focus and concerns of women from diverse ethnic backgrounds for a digital preconception health resource.
• To identify culturally specific needs and preferences for preconception health information.

Main Methods:

• Virtual workshops were conducted with 10 women from diverse ethnic backgrounds (East Asian, South Asian, Central Asian, Middle-Eastern, African).
• Focus group discussions explored cultural pregnancy preparation practices and information sources.
• Content analysis was performed on transcribed discussions to identify key topics.

Main Results:

• Culturally specific practices include dietary changes and alternative medicine.
• Family expectations, particularly from mothers-in-law, influenced pregnancy planning and caused stress.
• Women sought information on egg freezing, government benefits, adverse birth outcomes, healthcare navigation, interpreter services, and female health professionals.

Conclusions:

• Digital preconception health content should address stress management and cultural expectations.
• Information on locating female practitioners speaking their language is crucial.
• Optimized digital resources should support culturally diverse women in pregnancy planning.