Perception, Willingness to Use Preconception Care Services and Associated Factors among Urban-Dwelling Women of Reproductive Age in Oyo State, Nigeria

The Perception and Willingness to Use Preconception Care Services

Abstract

Background: Preconception care (PCC) offers biomedical, behavioral, and social health interventions to women and couples before conception, with the potential to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-income countries where pregnancy-related deaths and disabilities are prevalent. This study assessed perceptions, willingness to use, and factors associated with use of PCC services.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study utilizing a two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to recruit 509 women of reproductive age in Ibadan North Local Government Area. Data was collected using an interviewer-assisted questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 21.

Results: Most of the respondents, 71.3% (363), had good perception of preconception care, and 84.7% (431) were willing to use these services, despite only 32.8% (167) being aware of them. Significant associations were found between willingness and the highest level of education (p=0.002), ANC during last pregnancy (p=0.023), routine drug use (p= <0.001), health service utilization (p=0.029) and overall perception (p=0.019). Multivariate analysis showed that respondents with secondary education and those with fair or good routine drug use behavior were three and two times more likely, respectively, to be willing to utilize PCC compared to those with primary education or poor drug use behavior (OR=2.6 95%CI=1.190-5.783; OR=2.2 95%CI=1.273-3.677). Women earning above the minimum wage were twice more likely to willingly use PCC services than those earning less (OR=2.4 95%CI=1.002-5.515).

Conclusion: The need for better health education on preconception care is shown by the poor awareness of PCC services, despite the good perception and willingness to use these services.

Keywords: Preconception care, Perception, Willingness, Women of Reproductive Age