Exploring Community Readiness for Preconception Care: A Qualitative Assessment of Stakeholder Perspectives

Maternal mortality remains a global concern, with more than 700 women losing their lives each day in 2023. Preconception care (PCC) improves maternal and child health by addressing preventable risks. Assessing community readiness ensures effective implementation. The study aims to assess community readiness for PCC interventions using the Community Readiness Model to identify local barriers and facilitators. This qualitative study used an exploratory approach to evaluate community readiness for PCC, incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives. It was conducted in selected villages within the field practice area of a rural tertiary care teaching hospital in India between April and August 2024. Stakeholders, including health service provider, local governance representatives, administrative liaison, and community beneficiaries, were purposively selected, and 19 in-depth interviews were included using a purposive sampling technique, capturing varying levels of community involvement. Institutional ethical approval (IEC/406/2023) was obtained, and informed consent was collected from participants. Community readiness was assessed through a nine-level framework using stage-based scoring analysis grounded in the Community Readiness Model, with thematic analysis complemented by triangulation to validate findings and enhance reliability. Overall consensus community readiness score of the current study was 3.09, indicating moderate readiness for PCC (vague awareness stage) across communities. The stakeholder's scores ranged from 3.60, reflecting strong preparedness, to the lowest 2.15, highlighting significant gaps in readiness in certain areas. The findings of the study suggest that although some stakeholders are well-prepared, targeted interventions are needed to enhance readiness in communities with lower engagement and resource availability. Raising community awareness ensures women access quality PCC, improving maternal and child health and reducing mortality.