Tackling inequalities in preconception health and care: barriers, facilitators and recommendations for action from the 2023 UK preconception EMCR network conference.

Schoenaker D., Hall J., Stewart C., Hanley SJ., Cassinelli EH., Benton M., Wynn-Jones AA., Chawla M., Currie S., 2023 UK Preconception EMCR Network conference workshop participants .

Reducing inequalities in preconception health and care is critical to improving the health and life chances of current and future generations. A hybrid workshop was held at the 2023 UK Preconception Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCR) Network conference to co-develop recommendations on ways to address inequalities in preconception health and care. The workshop engaged multi-disciplinary professionals across diverse career stages and people with lived experience (total n = 69). Interactive discussions explored barriers to achieving optimal preconception health, driving influences of inequalities and recommendations. The Socio-Ecological Model framed the identified themes, with recommendations structured at interpersonal (e.g. community engagement), institutional (e.g. integration of preconception care within existing services) and environmental/societal levels (e.g. education in schools). The co-developed recommendations provide a framework for addressing inequalities in preconception health, emphasising the importance of a whole-systems approach. Further research and evidence-based interventions are now needed to advance the advocacy and implementation of our recommendations.

DOI

10.1017/S204017442400031X

Type

Journal article

Publication Date

2024-10-24T00:00:00+00:00

Volume

15

Keywords

Inequalities, policy, preconception, pregnancy planning, recommendations, Humans, Preconception Care, United Kingdom, Female, Healthcare Disparities, Pregnancy

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